Easter 2020
Readings: Acts 10:34A, 37-43; Psalm 118:1-2, 16-18, 22-23; Colossians 3:1-4; John 20:1-9
Abbot Lawrence – St. Gregory’s Abbey
What a privilege it is for us as a monastic community to be together on this Easter morning in our Abbey church, now so beautifully decorated with hundreds of Easter Lily blooms so carefully cultivated by Br. Andrew! We are very mindful that millions of Catholics and other Christians are not able to join with their parish communities and families to celebrate the true meaning of this special day: Jesus is victorious over the forces of sin and death. To those who are joining us in this Easter Mass through electronic means, we extend to you a very happy Easter, and we are remembering you in a special way here at St. Gregory’s Abbey.
For many, one of the more disappointing aspects of this Easter in a time of pandemic is that they were not able to participate in the great Easter Vigil this year. That includes us here at the Abbey. This year we missed the blessing of the new fire, the solemn preparation of the paschal candle and following its light into a darkened church. We missed seeing the darkness dissipate as the light of Christ was “divided but undimmed” as it was shared from one person to another, adding to the spreading light with their small candles. We were not present for the singing of the Exultet, and we did not hear that beautiful and inspiring set of readings that summarizes all of sacred scripture in one liturgy. We missed the baptism, confirmation and first Holy Communion of catechumens, reminding us of our own baptism. For some of us, we missed the highlight of our entire year.
Here at the monastery, we followed the directives of the Church and did not celebrate the Easter Vigil as usual. Rather, we retired for the night after Compline with the church still stripped of all ornamentation as it was for Good Friday. What a pleasant shock it was when we then arrived at the Office of Vigils before dawn to find the church already filled with the beauty and aroma of Easter Lilies. How surprised we were to find the pre-dawn church illuminated with the great paschal candle, with its flame having spread to all the candles marking the consecration of the church and altar. How could all this have happened while we were asleep? How could the beauty of Easter have dawned without our having kept the great vigil?
If we are disoriented on this Easter Sunday because we did not keep watch with the beautiful rituals of the Easter Vigil, and if we are surprised by the sudden transformation of the Abbey Church during the middle of the night, then how can we possibly imagine what it was like on that first Easter morning? Mary Magdalene no doubt was very disoriented to find the tomb of Jesus opened and empty when she went there to mourn before dawn on that first day of the week. The apostles must have been very surprised to hear her story about the missing body of Jesus. Peter and the other apostle must have been at a loss as to what to do once they saw the empty tomb and the discarded burial wrappings.
They all must have wondered what had happened and what would come next. After all, they “did not yet understand the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead.” They did not fully grasp that they were witnessing in real time the power of God to bring life from death, and the fulfillment of all that Jesus had been teaching them all along. They did not fully understand that nothing would ever be the same again: not for them and not for human history. But in the midst of all their confusion and fear, Jesus came to them and said: “Do not be afraid. Peace be with you.”
It is clear that human history has been and continues to be marked by so many disorienting, frightening and discouraging events – including suffering and death. But even in the face of such stark realities, Jesus Christ has overcome even the darkest powers of sin, despair and death. By the power of his redeeming love, Jesus changes darkness into light, despair into hope and death into life. This is the good news of Easter. Eventually, through the working of the Holy Spirit, the apostles not only came to understand this, but also came to live it and to share it confidently with others. As St. Peter says in our first reading: “He commissioned us to preach to the people and testify that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead.” Through their encounter with the Risen Lord, the apostles no longer feared persecution and death, and through their witness the world has been changed.
Their experience of our Risen Lord is meant for all people, including for us today. Perhaps we need to have our usual routines disrupted once in a while so that we can discover in a new way the risen Lord who reveals himself to us today and each day. In this time of pandemic, when a new disease very quickly has spread around the globe, many nations, cultures, communities and families have been shaken out of their complacency about the gift of life and their dependence on normal but passing routines, resources, and relationships. In the middle of this time of uncertainty, confusion and anxiety, God invites us to hear and to experience again the shocking and transforming message of Easter: Jesus Christ is risen from the dead, and death no longer has power over him. Jesus comes to us in our confusion, anxiety and fear and says: Do not be afraid. Peace be with you!” The words of St. Peter still come to us to assure us: “Jesus Christ is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness, that everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins through his name.”
In a few moments we will have the opportunity to renew our own baptismal promises. As we prepare to do so, let us hear again and embrace these encouraging and challenging words of St. Paul: “If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory.” This is the day the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice! Alleluia!