The concept of death is as old as human beings. Man found death as a part of his daily experience. He experienced the death of plants, insects, animals and his own fellow men. Ever since, man’s reaction to death has taken different attitudes. Some were and are terrified. Some freeze at the thought that they will have to come face to face with death one day. Others tried to find ways to avoid it turning to the supernatural world or spiritual transformation looking for answers. Immortality has been a subject of fascination to humanity since the beginning of known history.
During these days of the paschal mystery our readings have been recounting and our liturgies portraying the last days of Jesus and the way his disciple responded to all these happenings. From the Upper room where Jesus bent down and washed the feet of this disciples, the agony of the garden, the arrest, the scourging, the carrying of the cross the crucifixion, to the death of Jesus and his burial.
When Jesus took his last breath on the cross, the disciple hearts shrank on fear and their faith in Jesus’ promises vanished with his last breath. Once again they came face to face with the reality of humankind, death. They had experienced it in their own flesh in one way or another. For them it was the end. Sad and disappointed the disciples and followers of Jesus hide or disperse and go back to their normal life. I do not think we can blame them for such response. The idea of Jesus fulfilling his promise of rising from death was just something at the back of their mind, something that they did not assimilate, something they could not believe because they had never experienced it. The disciples’ concern was centered mainly on Jesus’ death.
I would like to share with you the story of a child who began to read the Gospels. Like many other children, he became fascinated by Jesus life and deeds. Suddenly, he ran out of his room crying hysterically into the arms of his scared mother. He cried: “They killed him. They killed him.” His mother comforted him and then whispered to him, “now my dear son, go back and finish the story.” In our own personal lives; where have we stopped reading the accounts of God’s promises? We heard in the readings tonight an account of the creation of man and woman, the liberation of the Hebrews from Egypt, the promises of God’s future kindness to Israel, the new life that Jesus brings us through his resurrection. This was in God’s plan for mankind, but the highpoint in God’s plan for us was the resurrection.
This night is the most blessed of all as we heard in the Easter Proclamation. The same cross that was used as a sign of punishment, as a sign of shame, as a mean to take away life, has become a sign of victory, celebration and life. Jesus’ resurrection reminds us that there is life beyond the grave. Jesus’ resurrection reminds us that we have an immortal soul. Although our body will return to dust, as we were repeated on Ash Wednesday, our soul will live forever with God. It is under the light of the resurrection that the whole event, which has taken place these days make sense.
My dear brothers and sisters, if we really believe in the Resurrection of Jesus, if we really believe that the resurrection of Jesus is the final answer to the human quest for immortality, why are we so much worried about death? Should not we be more concerned about resurrection?
The light of the Easter candle reminds us of the sure hope that the Spirit of the Risen Lord continues to act in our lives and in our world. Easter is a time when we realize that what humankind has long for in the depths of our hearts has become a reality. Easter is a joy born on the belief that the death of Jesus is our ransom from death. Easter is the discovery of the secret of how Jesus lived his life, a life lived doing his Father’s will and bringing people to himself.
The word that tonight is being proclaimed to the four corners of the earth is a transcendent word that we cannot explain, however it is something that we can experience. As we rejoice in the Resurrection of Christ this Easter, let us not merely say Christ is risen, but “I shall rise.
May God bless each and every one of us and may the peace of the risen Christ be with you and your families. On behalf of Saint Dominic’s Priory Community and on my own behalf I would like to thank you all for coming and forming our community of prayer this evening and wish you all a Blessed Easter.
Fr. Alejandro, Salcedo OP
St. Dominic’s Priory, Macau