Easter C. April 4 2010. Our Lady
of Grace, Easter Vigil and 9:30. Vigil
The women at the tomb on the morning of the Resurrection did
not see Jesus. Instead they saw two men in dazzling garments and the women were
terrified. The strange figures said, “Why do you seek the living one
among the dead? He is not here. He has been raised up.
Remember what he said to you. ‘The Son of man must be handed over to
sinners and be crucified, and rise on the third day.’” They ran from the
tomb and announced the good news to the eleven apostles and to the other
disciples. They had not yet seen Jesus, but they believed the witness of
the two men in dazzling garments. When the other disciples heard the message of
the women the others said that their story seemed like pure nonsense and they
did not believe them. When the disciples finely saw the risen Christ the
Apostle Thomas was not with them. He said very boldly, “Unless I see
the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nail marks and my
hand into his open side I will not believe.” In his mercy Jesus
showed himself to Thomas and told him to touch him, just as he later showed
himself to the Apostle Paul on the road to
When Peter heard the witness of the women he was amazed at
seeing the burial clothes but not the body of Jesus. Being amazed is a good
place to begin. Peter had not yet come to full faith in the risen
Christ. To truly believe in Christ involves following in his footsteps as
the Risen Lord of History. That would not happen fully for Peter until he
was crucified upside down in
The Gospel of Luke focuses our attention on the presence of
the Risen Christ in our lives. While the physical resurrection of Jesus
is the pillar and foundation of our faith, the presence of the Risen Christ
extends far beyond his risen body. In the very next passage in Luke’s Gospel
two disciples are walking on the road to Emmaus on Easter evening.
While they were walking Jesus began to walk with them but they did
not recognize him. He asked them what they were discussing and he began
to reveal himself to them in discussing the news of the day as they walked
along. The news of the day is always about Jesus. It may seem to be about
a family tragedy, the birth of a new baby or an earthquake in
As the first disciples walked along Jesus explained to them
that the Scriptures revealed the Risen Christ in daily life. He opened
their minds to understanding the Scriptures so that they could understand his
presence in the news of the day and the unfolding of their lives.
Finally, still partially hidden from their sight, Jesus sat down for dinner
with them. When Jesus broke the bread they recognized him. The Risen
Christ is fully revealed when we gather as a community to share the news of our
lives, where Christ truly lives today. He is present as we listen to the
Scriptures which help us understand the meaning of our lives as a community and
as individuals. Jesus is most clearly revealed when we break the bread of
the Eucharist and recognize him in our midst as our sacrifice, our food and
drink, and our way to fulfillment and happiness. The gospel makes it clear that
the physical resurrection of Jesus is immensely important. At the same
time our experience of Jesus and our insight into the Risen Christ is much bigger
than the risen body of Christ. We meet the Risen Christ on the road of
our lives. The Risen Christ is walking with us on every road, hill and valley
of our lives. We meet the Risen Christ in the Scripture that reveals the
meaning of our walk with Jesus even when he is hidden from our sight. We
meet and share our lives with the Risen Christ in the Eucharist. The Risen
Christ reveals himself to us in every Eucharist, on every Sunday, in every
place, to everyone willing to receive him. His Risen Body is important
but much too small to be present everywhere.
Easter without a closer walk with Jesus makes no sense and
has no purpose. As we renew our baptismal promises we ask the Risen Lord
to walk with us always.
I am
weak, but Thou art strong
Jesus, keep me from all Wrong
I'll be satisfied As long,
As I walk, let me walk Close to Thee.
Just a closer Walk with Thee,
Grant it, Jesus, Hear my Plea,
Daily walking Close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, Let it be.
As a sign of our walk with Jesus let us now renew the vows
of our baptism (Easter Vigil: with our elect- catechumen who is about to be
baptized.)
May your walk with the Risen Lord bring you joy always. Happy Easter.