Happy Easter to all of you. On this morning we find the stone of the tomb rolled away and no body to be found inside. On the third day Christ rose from the dead and for that we are filled with joy this day. The sorrow that entered our hearts with Christ's expiration upon the cross and then having His body locked away with a stone has been lifted through this event. We realize with hope that each sorrow that has been trapped inside of our own hearts can be let loose. In removing the stone from our hearts we cast them to Christ who is able to conquer over death and sorrow and bring redemption and hope into our lives. The season of Easter is filled with hope because the tomb did not remain sealed, but instead was opened to the joys of the Resurrection. This morning as we gather together for this Mass we are able to share within the joy that was felt by Mary Magdalene, the other women, and the eleven apostles as they slowly learned of the news that the stone had been rolled away and that Christ did indeed triumph over death.
This triumph over death was slowly revealed to His followers throughout His public ministry. He had stated that His body was a temple and upon the third day of it being destroyed that it would be rebuilt. They could also recall that he had compared himself to Jonah who was in the belly of the whale for three days because He would be inside of the belly of the earth for three days and then rise again from it. The Pharisees knew all that Christ had said about His death and His triumph over it and they were therefore afraid. In Matthew's Gospel they showed their fear for what would come because they wanted the stone placed upon the tomb and they wanted guards placed around it so that the body could not be stolen away. Their knowledge of the third day was so great that they desired a guard to remain at the tomb for three days. Despite all of the work that they put into sealing up the tomb their actions could not avoid that which would come to pass.
Their fear had caused them to seal the tomb with the stone. The stone was probably very heavy and required the assistance of many men in order to position it inside of its proper place. In our own lives we know the burden that comes with sin. We know the burden that comes each day of our lives through fear and suffering. The weight of this burden that we feel is great and at times even feels as if it can never be moved away from our lives. In our sin we remain lost and forget about the joyous day when we entered into the waters of baptism and had the joy of faith extended into our lives. Through sin we feel that we have been locked away without hope. When our prayers are never answered we feel as if we are all alone without hope. When the world begins to crumble around us and we can find no way to escape our entrapment we are left questioning where hope can be found. The moments of our life where we lack hope is when we allow the stone of the tomb to encompass our lives.
It was upon the third day that the women came prepared to anoint a dead body. They brought with them everything that they would need for this anointing to take place. With great surprise they realized with hope that the Resurrection had taken place through the stone being rolled away putting the empty tomb on display for the world to see. As we glance into this empty tomb may all of us also be filled with that same hope that these women felt. Today we celebrate Easter Sunday where the Resurrection has taken place displaying the triumph over the cross. In this event we are able to find hope because we too can triumph over our sins, despair, sufferings, and all that makes us feel as if we are all alone. In the empty tomb we are able to find the hope that from our various crosses that we must bear will come something greater. When these women approached this tomb they were prepared to find a dead body and their spirits were at a low, but through the triumph of Christ they were given hope.
We too are able to encounter this hope this day when we glance into the empty tomb. We notice here that our baptisms were not done in vain, but instead continually connect us to the life of Christ. From these waters our sins were washed away and we entered into the life of faith. No longer do we need to fear death, but instead are challenged to truly embrace it through the life of faith. Through the life of faith we are led away from despair and are given the hope of the life that will come. For this we have the Sacraments of the Church extended into lives. Confession which gives us a glimpse into God's infinite mercy for the repentant sinner and the Holy Eucharist which flows from God's mercy. The Body and Blood of Christ brings nourishment into our life of faith, so that we may be forever strengthened in our faith. Without finding the stone rolled away from the tomb each of these Sacraments would be without meaning, but thankfully we are given hope into the reality that the stone has been rolled away.
Today as we begin this Easter season we are given every reason to shout: "Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!" With the news of the empty tomb and that stone that has been rolled away may we always allow our faith to be strengthened through the hope of Christ's Resurrection. This is the day that the Lord has made may we rejoice and be glad in it for Christ our Lord was able to conquer over death may we therefore always have hope.
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