Homily by Father Paul
A wise old woman
who had once been a concert pianist gave lessons to youngsters.
Whenever she was preparing them for recitals,
she would have them practice the last few measures of music
over and over again.
Always and inevitably,
the students would get sick and tired of practicing their finales.
Finally one would ask the question all wondered: “WHY?”
The wise old woman would answer,
“You can make a mistake in the beginning or even in the middle,
but the people forget,
if you make your ending glorious.
Those apostles and disciples,
women and men who followed Jesus for as long as three years
had seen with their own eyes amazing, awe-inspiring miracles.
Jesus healed the sick,
raised the dead,
cast out demons,
fed the crowds,
walked on water, and
calmed a storm.
They heard with their own ears
preaching like they had never heard before,
words that
challenged,
confounded,
comforted,
chastised, and
changed peoples lives.
Despite what they saw and heard,
apparently everyone believed
that the crucifixion, death, and burial of Jesus was the end.
Their hopes were dashed and
their dreams were crushed.
None of them expected to ever see Jesus again.
If Easter says anything at all to us,
it is that Jesus will always be with us.
Jesus will ALWAYS be with us!
In the midst of this pandemic,
the sickness and death,
the fear and uncertainty,
the isolation and loneliness
it is Gospel — good news —
to remember and celebrate
the way Jesus made his ending glorious.
CONSIDER HOW JESUS DIED:
willingly sacrificing his life for ours.
On Good Friday we hear these words from the prophet Isaiah:
It was our infirmities that he bore,
our sufferings that he endured.
He was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins;
upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole,
by his stripes we were healed.
WE REMEMBER HE WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD!
When the body of Jesus was taken from the Cross
and placed in a tomb,
everything Jesus stood for, said, and did
must have seemed lost and over with.
But Jesus was raised from the dead
to be the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE,
our BROTHER, and our GOOD SHEPHERD.
WE CELEBRATE THAT JESUS HAS DEFEATED DEATH.
St. John Chrysostom said it so much better than I ever could.
O death, where is your sting?
O grave, where is your victory?
Christ is risen and you are overthrown.
Christ is risen and the devils are cast down.
Christ is risen and life reigns.
Christ is risen and no one dead remains in the grave.
For Christ, being risen from the dead has become
the leader and receiver
of those who have fallen asleep in death.
To Christ be glory and honor both now and forever!
FINALLY, WE BELIEVE THAT JESUS SHARES HIS GRACE WITH US NOW
when we leave our sinful ways for God’s ways
when hatred gives way to love
when we overcome our addictions
when despair is transformed into hope
when we are filled with God’s presence
when we help those in need however and wherever we can and they are
when we love one another as Jesus commands us.
This morning we celebrate the glorious death and resurrection of Jesus.
The stone rejected by the builders is indeed the cornerstone.
On that first Easter Sunday
the risen Lord came to where the disciples were —
self quarantined in a locked upper room.
Jesus came and stood in their midst.
Neither death,
nor the grave,
not even locked doors could not stop him.
Remember and believe:
the same risen Lord is available for
you and me and anyone, anywhere
who welcomes him into their hearts and homes.