Easter Vigil (2)

Title

Why Do You Seek the Living Among the Dead?

Outline

“Peter, I think I really believe in the resurrection of Jesus”

That is what an Anglican rector said to me between Easter Eucharists

“That is wonderful, xx,” I replied, “for I am just about to preach that those who do not are not in any way Christian”

Instead, they are not only trying to find Jesus among the dead but they are trying to find life among the dead.

That is what in Luke Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James and the others plus, later, Peter, had to learn. Their hearts were in the right place, for their hearts were with Jesus, but they could only remember where they last saw him - in a tomb - and their eyes needed to be lifted up rather looking down. (I imagine Peter might have seen the place too during the burial, but perhaps hiding among the rocks or trees on the opposite hill.)

There are two basic reasons why we need this change of view

First, we need to realize that we have died with Jesus

Paul says, “are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?”

These were all baptized people, baptized into identification with Christ, and then followers of Jesus

But if they do not realize that in baptism they put the life of this world behind them, they can never experience that “our old self was crucified with him, so that our sinful body might be done away with, that we might no longer be in slavery to sin.”

Now some we serve and care for in this world are very much in slavery to sin and have yet to either experience baptism or experience the meaning of baptism, so we cannot totally take our eyes off the walking dead.

But the process of becoming like Jesus and of growing in the life of virtue is in essence one of detachment from this or that within us that is drawing us back into death and turning our focus on the living Jesus and his living Mother.

To the extent that we are still searching among the dead we are hindered from doing this.

Second, we need to realize that Jesus’ resurrection is our resurrection

It is not that we are already bodily transformed into the resurrection body as Mary is

We still have our dying bodies, but within we have the new transformative life of Christ that we can choose to allow free reign.

Baptism as death was the start so that “just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life”

In that case we too are “raised from the dead, dies no more; death no longer has power over him.” In other words, Satan’s or death’s only power over us is a phantom power, the fear of death, which for us is past.

Paul concludes, “Consequently, you too must think of yourselves as [being] dead to sin and living for God in Christ Jesus.” Their eyes needed to be searching elsewhere than among the dead; like Mary in John they needed to turn around from the tomb to see Jesus. For it is in the vision of the living Christ that we find the power to “live for God in Christ Jesus.”

So, Sisters, the resurrection of Jesus is the core of Christian life

We rightly look on the crucifix in our meditation, for that it what was done for us, that is what our old life is through baptism, and that is what our life in this world will be as we live out our baptismal promises. We are butterflies struggling out of our chrysalis, so to speak.

But we must also look through the crucifix to the living Christ present in here in bread and wine, present everywhere glowing with resurrection life. That is the source of our strength, that is the fountain of life, that is the source of virtue, and that is the goal towards which we move.

Do not seek the living among the dead, but rather and see him who is alive. As we walk towards him we will in fact be changed into his likeness, into union with him.

Readings

Catholic Daily Readings 4-16-2022: Easter Vigil

EPISTLE

Romans 6:3–11

3 Or are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life.

5 For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his, we shall also be united with him in the resurrection. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him, so that our sinful body might be done away with, that we might no longer be in slavery to sin. 7 For a dead person has been absolved from sin. 8 If, then, we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more; death no longer has power over him. 10 As to his death, he died to sin once and for all; as to his life, he lives for God. 11 Consequently, you too must think of yourselves as [being] dead to sin and living for God in Christ Jesus.

Catholic Daily Readings 4-16-2022: Easter Vigil

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Psalm 118:1–2, 16–17, 22–23

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,

his mercy endures forever.

2 Let Israel say:

his mercy endures forever.

16 the LORD’s right hand is raised;

the LORD’s right hand works valiantly.”

17 I shall not die but live

and declare the deeds of the LORD.

22 The stone the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone.

23 By the LORD has this been done;

it is wonderful in our eyes.

GOSPEL

Luke 24:1–12

CHAPTER 24

1 But at daybreak on the first day of the week they took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb; 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were puzzling over this, behold, two men in dazzling garments appeared to them. 5 They were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground. They said to them, “Why do you seek the living one among the dead? 6 He is not here, but he has been raised. Remember what he said to you while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners and be crucified, and rise on the third day.” 8 And they remembered his words. 9  Then they returned from the tomb and announced all these things to the eleven and to all the others. 10 The women were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James; the others who accompanied them also told this to the apostles, 11 but their story seemed like nonsense and they did not believe them. 12  But Peter got up and ran to the tomb, bent down, and saw the burial cloths alone; then he went home amazed at what had happened.

Notes

Catholic Daily Readings 4-16-2022: Easter Vigil

SATURDAY, APRIL 16, 2022 | VIGIL | EASTER

EASTER VIGIL

YEAR C | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY

First Reading Genesis 1:1–2:2 or Genesis 1:1, 26–31a

Response & Psalm, Option I

Response Psalm 104:30

Psalm Psalm 104:1–2, 5–6, 10, 12–14, 24, 35

or

Response & Psalm, Option II

Response Psalm 33:5b

Psalm Psalm 33:4–7, 12–13, 20–22

Second Reading Genesis 22:1–18 or Genesis 22:1–2, 9a, 10–13, 15–18

Response Psalm 16:1

Psalm Psalm 16:5, 8–11

Third Reading Exodus 14:15–15:1

Response Exodus 15:1b

Psalm Exodus 15:1–6, 17–18

Fourth Reading Isaiah 54:5–14

Response Psalm 30:2a

Psalm Psalm 30:2, 4–6, 11–13

Fifth Reading Isaiah 55:1–11

Response Isaiah 12:3

Psalm Isaiah 12:2–6

Sixth Reading Baruch 3:9–15, 32–4:4

Response John 6:68c

Psalm Psalm 19:8–11

Seventh Reading Ezekiel 36:16–17a, 18–28

Response & Psalm, Option I

Response Psalm 42:2

Psalm Psalm 42:3, 5, 43:3–4

or

Response & Psalm, Option II

Response Isaiah 12:3

Psalm Isaiah 12:2–3, 4b–6

or

Response & Psalm, Option III

Response Psalm 51:12a

Psalm Psalm 51:12–15, 18–19

Epistle Romans 6:3–11

Gospel Acclamation Psalm 118:1–2, 16–17, 22–23

Gospel Luke 24:1–12

White