Easter - Fr. Leo

Easter Vigil - Mark 16:1-7

The three women, Mary Magdalene,  Mary, the mother of, James, and Salome, were amazed when they reached Jesus' tomb.  Amazed that a huge stone had been moved to the side only to find a young man in a white robe sitting there.  Shocking, in what would be an extremely dark place a young man sits with a bright white robe around him.  All cause for amazement.  

However, what is even more amazing, are the words of the young man who brings things to the highest level of the Spirit.  He says, “Don’t be amazed.”  Which only heightens the amazement.  Then he announces to them the resurrection of Christ and his planed meeting with the disciples in Galilee.  Unbelievable. Christ, risen from the dead!

Our faith brings light where there is darkness and helps us embrace an incomprehensible God.  Faith is more than our reason can comprehend.  It is the holding of the incomprehensible in the heart.

Easter Sunday  - John 20:1-9

Mary of Magdala alerts the disciples to Jesus’ open tomb.  Peter and probably John, the disciples whom Jesus loved, ran to the tomb.  Though the younger arrived first, he waited in deference for Peter’s arrival.  Peter goes in first and observes, like John, the burial cloths wrapped up to the side, and the cloth over his face set apart.  Peter didn’t know what to make of this; could Jesus have risen from the dead?  The young man went in and saw, and believed.  It was this special bond of love of Jesus that allowed him to embrace the resurrection, and to see that Jesus was/is the Christ.

While our minds will always be baffled by the physical resurrection of Christ, it is our hearts that makes our faith real, and brings us to believe that death has been conquered, and the fullness of the Spirit poured out for us now and forever.  Christ is Risen and calls us to share in the fullness of God’s Spirit.  Alleluia!