Genesis 1:1-2:2 and 22:1-18 Exodus 14:15-15:1 Isaiah 54:5-14 and 55:1-11 Baruch 3:9-15.32-4:4 Ezekiel 36:16-28 Romans 6:3-11 Matthew 28:1-10
“On the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done.”
And “towards dawn of the first day of the (new) week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see” the place where he rested, for he had decided to rest among us on earth.
“O happy fault that earned us so great” a privilege!
It was still dark.
“The stars shone in their watches and were glad. They shone with gladness for him who made them” and was now asleep. And they shone with the women who went to see him resting, for the women themselves were glowing with faith, though they were unaware of it themselves.
Suddenly there was an earthquake - as the heavens opened to receive the Son of God back again, after he had completed his rest. And through the opening “an angel of the Lord descended and came and rolled back the stone (from the entrance of the tomb) and sat on it, his appearance was like lightning”.
Some soldiers were there. They were told to guard a body of a dead man who had been crucified, so they were afraid of losing it. That is why “for fear of the angel they trembled and became like dead men,” thinking that this powerful being would rob them of what they were guarding, and that would mean serious trouble. The soldiers became paralyzed with fear, as if wholly made out of stone.
To the women, however, the angel said: but you, “do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus”. He knew that their desires and fears were in every way opposed to those of the soldiers: they were seeking Jesus, worried that they might not find him. That is why the angel removed even “the hearts of stone” from both of them and the women became all flesh, fully alive. God rewarded them with hearts of flesh for their faith, because they “came to the waters” even though they had no money. Even though it looked as if their Lord had already departed, “they called upon him while he was still near”, still not too far away.
And yet their new hearts of flesh were heavy, for each one was “like a wife deserted and grieved in spirit”. So the angel said to them: “For a brief moment the Lord deserted you, but with great compassion (he) will gather you.” “Come and see the place where he lay, then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead.” And as they departed with fear and great joy, “the angel of God who was going before them moved and went behind them”. His appearance was like a pillar of fire.
When they were still on their way, “behold, Jesus met them and said: greetings!”
“And they said: here we are! They shone with gladness for him who made them. This is our God, no other can be compared to him!”
And he replied: “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, so the Word that goes out from God's mouth, it succeeds in the thing for which he sent it.”
Thus “God provided for himself the lamb for an offering. On the Mount of the Lord it was provided.”
My offspring shall be multiplied “as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore”. And now: “Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me,” he said. And the women replied: “Happy are we, for we know what is pleasing to God.”
“See, I have told you” - a story.
Though it may not be exactly how it really happened, it is nevertheless a true story. I allowed myself a bit of creativity, but I was creative with what my family of faith, the Church that is, passed on to me. Because for me, as for all of you, this is the beginning of the Saga to which we all belong. I am not a very bright star in this Saga, but still, I can hold my head up high, for I also heard the Good News and received a heart of flesh. That's because Mary Magdalene and the other Mary reached the disciples, who in turn set out for Galilee and met Jesus on the way. And so it goes. You hear the news – he has risen from the dead! – you set out in faith, he comes out to meet you on the way, before your faith runs out.
I could tell you how the faith eventually reached my family and others, who in their turn reached me, but it would take too long. In any case, I also was sent on a mission, departed with joy and enthusiasm, and thank God that Jesus did not wait for its completion before he met me on the way. Thank God, because I now see I'd never be able to get anywhere, let alone to the end. He met me soon after I set out, to give me a foretaste of what lies ahead, when my six days of work come to an end and I fall asleep on the seventh day. I am sure that you met him, too, you wouldn't be here otherwise. And he meets us in the Eucharist, of course. As I have said, my star is not very bright, but I come here to absorb some of the brightness of this most sacred night, and to warm myself by his and your presence.