EASTER SUNDAY: A. March 23, 2008

Acts 10: 34-43 Psalm: 118 Colossian 3:1-4 John 20: 1-18

1. Many of you will celebrate Easter with a big turkey dinner and all its trimmings. There will be Easter lilies, Easter bunnies, Easter eggs. People put on their finest clothes and come for Mass. There will be alleluias in the air. This is a far cry from the First Easter when the Apostles were sitting frightened behind closed doors for few of the authorities. They were looking at Easter with the eyes of Good Friday. One had betrayed. One had denied. The ten had fled with the Master really needed them.

Peter was thinking, “I have given up the boats and nets. What do I do now?”

Thomas was saying, “Did I not tell you, it was too good to be true?”

Matthew had given up his books and taxes. He had been treated with contempt by his fellow Jews. But at least he had the money. But now even that was gone. The Disciples on the road to Emmaus summed it up well when they said, “We had hoped.”

It was nice, when Jesus was there. He had spoken with authority. He done miracles. He had always confounded their enemies with his answers. But now he was gone. And so had their hopes and dreams.

Some of us even today, look at Easter with those same Good Friday eyes. Has Jesus really risen? Does his Resurrection and does the Church make a difference in this world and in our lives.

2. But then they remembered.

He had said love one another. And he had loved.

He had said turn the other cheek when they slap you. He had turned, he was crowned with thorns. He had been crucified.

But Love had prevailed. “Father forgive them.” He had forgiven his enemies. He had forgiven Judas even when as John said, “Jesus knowing that his hour had come to depart and knowing all things.” Jesus knew that Judas was to betray him. Yet Jesus loved him. Yet Jesus washed his feet. Yet Jesus had given him the bread after he had dipped it in the dish. The bread was a sign of love, a sign of trust, a sign of friendship. Jesus never took back his hand if ever Judas needed help.

3. They remembered. It was all gradually coming back. Love had not died. It seemed so much like the trees and plants that we see during winter. They all seem dead and lifeless. But there are signs of life. We begin to see green grass as the snow melts. The buds are beginning to show forth on the trees. We know soon there will be leaves. We are certain of that. There is Life, because Love has not died.

Now it was true that the women had come and witnessed. The women had told them that they had seen the Lord. But the apostles did no believe them then. And the women continue to witness today with their love and caring. The women have the truth. And we still do not believe them now. When will we ever learn.

4.

They remembered in the breaking of the bread

They remembered as they saw the wounds the nails had made

They remembered when he appeared among them in spite of closed doors.

They remembered when they saw the burial clothes and the cloth that covered his face neatly rolled up in the tomb.

If God would take care of small details like a folded napkin how much more would God take care of all the other small details of our lives.

They remembered. They believed.

We remember. We believe. We celebrate.