Easter Homily 2021

Love is stronger than Death

In the Passion and death of Our Lord we see love’s vulnerability. In the Resurrection we see love’s power and strength.

Our Lord was not vulnerable because men were stronger than He. No. He was vulnerable because He loved us and willingly took our suffering. Parents often wish that they could take their children’s sickness, God does exactly this, taking on our misery and freeing us from it.

In the Passion and death of Our Lord we see to what lengths love is willing to go to to save the beloved, to save us.

In the Resurrection we see love’s victory. Love’s victory is life. Death has not the power to hold or resist Love. Love breaks out, breaks free.

From Love comes all good things.

From the love of spouses comes children, new life.

Love in a home begets happiness.

The Love of art or music produces master pieces.

Love transforms ordinary deeds into special gifts of kindness.

Heroes overcomes great obstacles and dangers driven & spurred by love.

When God created us He created us out of love. He created the physical Universe because He loved us. From the trees to the animals, from the insects to the stars, all of it is because He loves us and wants the best for us.

And so out of love for us God became man and died for us to save us. “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

In the Passion and Resurrection we see the immense power of Love. We see that even from the greatest sin, the greatest evil, the darkest moment in human history, the killing of the Only Begotten Son of God, that even from this Love can overcome and can draw good from it. Turning the greatest crime, deicide, to the greatest act of love, redemption.

Easter Sunday follows Good Friday. The Resurrection follows the death. Glory follows humiliation. What is brought low is raised on high.

“For love is as strong as death, its jealousy as unyielding as the grave.

It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame.

Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away.

If one were to give all the wealth of one’s house for love, it would be utterly scorned.” Song of Solomon 8:6

If we have not love what is the point of our prayers, our sacrifices, our good deeds (giving alms). Spiritual life is animated by love, without love what good could we do? Chaplain of my school, a bitter man.

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a ringing gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and exult in the surrender of my body, but have not love, I gain nothing. 1Cor 13.

Let us ask this grace in this Mass that we may grow every day in love. To love God above all things and love your neighbour as yourself. “Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8