Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L.
Bishop of Scranton
HOMILY
Easter – April 24, 2011
Have you ever noticed how certain images – events – in our lives stay with us regardless of the passage of time. In 1972, almost 40 years ago, my grandmother’s earthly life was winding down. Over the course of a few weeks, she simply tired, weakened and passed from this world into eternity. Two days before she died, she asked to be walked from her bedroom into the kitchen of the home in which she raised her ten children. And she sat surrounded by most of those children and she looked at them and out into a huge yard that contained her vegetable and flower garden and that was the location of so much life and laughter and joy for many years.
She didn’t speak very much that day. But the words that she shared have stayed with me for all these years. All she said, more than once was this: “I’m so happy.”
She understood that her journey was coming to an end. Undoubtedly she was consoled to know that her family was together – with her – despite the ups and downs that every family experiences. But I know that the root of her happiness had much more to do with her faith – her relationship with God – a relationship that enabled her over the years to accept the joys and sorrows of life.
I mention my grandmother on “this day that the Lord has made” because for her, the resurrection of Jesus was not just an interesting claim or an abstract point of doctrine. Through the practice of her faith – going to Mass on Sunday – praying daily – serving her family – and trying the best that she could to show her gratitude for the gifts of her life – she came to believe in the resurrection of Jesus because of the simple fact that she had experienced his presence throughout her many years. She knew him well. Of course she was happy in her final days. For my grandmother, like so many of the people that you have loved and lost, the resurrection of Jesus was very real – something she anticipated in her own life.
The reality – the truth of the resurrection should not elude us on this Easter day. Yet, it’s easy for that to happen, isn’t it? The resurrection can often elude us not because we explicitly deny it – but rather because we often don’t make enough room for it in our busy lives. My grandmother’s life quieted down and she was given time to reflect upon and treasure the gift of faith that she had been given. Yet, many of us in this Cathedral today are working harder than ever; trying to earn a living for your loved ones in difficult times; trying to raise families and to impart good values in a distorted culture; trying to cope with limitations, sickness and loss. It’s not easy to keep our focus on the risen Lord – but let’s not make it harder than it has to be.
Twice in today’s gospel passage, we hear these words: “Do not be afraid!” The first time we hear them, they are spoken by an angel to the women when they arrive at the tomb of Jesus, only to discover that it’s empty. The second time, the words are spoken by the Lord himself as he appears to the women, offers them peace and then bids them to go forth and carry the news of his resurrection.
“Do not be afraid.” Yet, we go through life, almost unaware of how available, how real, how powerful Christ’s love for us really is. We allow ourselves to be filled with anxiety instead of embracing the power of the resurrection and allowing it to transform our lives from the inside out. And even as life-long Christians, many of us can ask: “How can this event – the resurrection of Jesus – reach into my life? What does this event mean for me?”
Pope Benedict XVI answered that question for us some time ago: “This event – the resurrection of Jesus – comes to me – to you – through faith and Baptism. For this reason, Baptism is part of the Easter Vigil when the sacraments of Christian initiation are conferred. Baptism means precisely this, that we are not dealing with an event in the past, but that a qualitative leap in world history comes to me, seizing hold of me in order to draw me on.”
What happens in Baptism and what should occur throughout our lives because of it, is best described by Saint Paul in his letter to the Galatians. “It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me.”
Indeed, it is because of such a reality that Jesus himself was raised from the dead. You see, the crucial point of Jesus’ life is that he was not alone in this world. He was not an individual closed in on himself. No, to the contrary, Jesus’ life was lived in an embrace with life itself – his life was lived in total communion with his Father. And for that reason, death – even Jesus’ death on the cross – could not prevail over the power of God – the author of life.
Jesus life was woven into the life of his Father. He lived not for himself but for the sake of his Father living within him. And we, the Baptized, and all those baptized at the Easter Vigil – here in our Cathedral, in parishes throughout the Diocese of Scranton – and throughout the world – like Jesus, we too are called to live no longer for ourselves. No, Jesus lives in us – Jesus’ life is woven into our lives – and gives us a new understanding of life and the power to face the tribulations of our day – if we let him speak to us and fill us with his Spirit.
Because of the power of God’s love – Jesus’ resurrection was not merely his own individual triumph. It also broke the definitive grip of sin and death on the entire human family. Since Jesus shared in our humanity and was raised, we in turn share in his victory over sin and death and over every form of brokenness and self-centeredness.
Therein we discover the reason for the Lord’s words in today’s gospel: “Do not be afraid.” There is a way out! “Do not be afraid.”
Yet, along with these words of consolation, Jesus also speaks words of challenge to the women who discover him raised from the dead: “Go and carry the news to my brothers.”
The reality and consolation of the resurrection in our lives is always accompanied by signs of the resurrection in our midst: carrying the message of salvation to others – working for peace throughout our world and in our homes and neighborhoods – sharing our bread with the hungry – comforting the sick – teaching the Good News to our children – forgiving those who have harmed us – working for justice – treasuring life in every shape and form. Simply put, we give witness to the resurrection of Jesus when we open ourselves to his presence living within us. And we become signs of the resurrection of Jesus when our lives reflect his life.
Again, the words of Pope Benedict: “This is the joy of Easter. The resurrection is not a thing of the past; the resurrection has reached us and seized us. We grasp hold of the risen Lord, and we know that he holds us firmly even when our hands grow weak. We grasp hold of his hand, and thus we also hold on to one another’s hands.” What beautiful words of our Holy Father: Jesus living within us – gathering us together as a people – and giving us hope through his presence.
This Easter Day, more than any other, reminds us that although wounded and broken – we are loved – and we are given hope. May we see – in the gift of the Eucharist – the power and presence of the Risen Lord. And may we begin to treasure – in the gift of one another – the very hands of the risen Lord himself, grasping hold of us and leading us to peace.
