Homily: Easter Sunday 2016 - He is Risen!

During Lent, a wonderful movie was released about the resurrection of Jesus Christ seen from the eyes of a Roman military official.  The movie was called ‘Risen’.

The movie begins much like our Gospel reading today: with an empty tomb.  And this Roman military official, who witnessed the execution of Jesus on Good Friday, is ordered by the governor Pontius Pilate to investigate what happened to Jesus’ body.

It is a fascinating film.  It as if you are transported to first century Jerusalem: the palace of Pontius Pilate, mount Calvary where Jesus was crucified, the tomb belonging to Joseph of Arimathea where Jesus was laid. 

And it is also interesting to watch this film from the perspective of this Roman military officer. He had not before heard of Jesus and his band of apostles.  He himself prayed to one of the Roman gods, Mars, the god of war.  And his entire world is shaken when he begins to meet with those who claim that Jesus had risen from the dead. 

His investigations led him to seek out the testimony of Mary Magdalene and the Apostles.  What struck him was how these people who had been filled with so much grief on Good Friday were now, after Easter, filled with peace and joy and fearlessness and conviction.

One of the Apostles, Bartholomew could barely contain his excitement.  Jesus had risen! He had appeared to them! He won! The kingdom of peace and joy that Jesus promised was being established! The old kingdom of sin and death and violence and hatred and perversion was itself passing away to make way for the new kingdom that would last forever.

Brothers and sisters, on this easter morn, we are called to consider our reaction to the resurrection of Jesus.  Are we like the Roman Military official, not quite sure if this really happened? Or, are we like the apostles? Filled with joy and excitement and conviction that He is Truly Risen?

From time to time, I meet fellow Christians who claim that their faith would be so much stronger if they had lived back then: if they had been one of the apostles or heard and seen Jesus preach and perform miracles.  But brothers and sisters, God did not choose us to live back then, God chose us to witnesses to the Resurrection of Jesus here and now—to live and proclaim our Easter Faith in this 21^st Christian century: He is Risen, he is truly risen.

And if you believe that, it changes everything.  No longer are we to live as part of the old fallen regime.  We no longer take part in its fallen sinful practices. No longer are we to imbibe in its glamours and false promises.   No longer are we to fear the powers of this world which seek to silence the message of Christ.

We are to joyfully and fearlessly witness to the doubters, the lost souls, the souls trapped in cycles of addiction and sin, that freedom and new life is possible through Christ because he is victorious over sin and death—sin has no power over those who are filled with the resurrected life of Jesus Christ.

On one level, we have a pretty easy time making the transition from Lent to Easter. We naturally prefer feasting to fasting, rejoicing to sacrificing. We prefer singing Alleluia to doing penance.  For those of you who took Lenten penance seriously, we are glad that Lent is over.  Yet, on another level, the transition from Lent to Easter is life challenging—this is when the real work begins—the work of spreading Christian joy, the work of fearlessly standing up for our faith, the work of witnessing to unbelievers.

St. Paul said to us in the second reading, “If you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above.” Lent was supposed to help us put earthly things behind us. Are you ready to put earthly things behind you? Are you ready to leave earthly pursuits in the past, so you can seek the things that are above: truth, goodness, beauty, patience, peace, joy.

When Jesus rose from the dead on Easter Sunday morning nearly 2000 years ago, he rose WITH HIS SCARS! In the resurrection, in glory, Jesus STILL BEARS THESE GLORIOUS WOUNDS of his crucifixion. So too with us. The sacrifices and penances of Lent have prepared us for Easter living.  During Lent, we tilled the soil of our souls, that the new life of Easter might be planted, and bear fruit of fearlessness, joy, perseverance in good works, patience, and generous charity. 

In just a moment, we will renew the promises of our Baptism. We will promise once again to put behind us the old life of sin, to walk with Christ in newness of life, to make our souls places where the risen Christ may dwell and bear fruit and draw sinners to himself through us. 

How will you ensure Christ’s victory will continue in you? As you renew the promises of baptism, renew your commitment to Sunday Mass, daily prayer, regular reading of Scripture, generous charity, patience with one another—for authentic Christian joy is impossible without them.  Easter is not simply meant to be celebrated once a year, but daily, as easter faith is lived out in the lives of the Christian people, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.