In My Body, I Shall See God – Easter Vigil
Mass readings
Throughout the world tonight, Christians proclaim that the
Lord is risen. They pass on what they heard from those who
saw Him. Alleluia is the anthem we keep repeating, not to
convince ourselves but to deal with it. When the Yankees
win a game, the announcer repeats over and over “The
Yankees win!, The Yankees win!” In our excitement, we
do the same. Whether in something we rejoice or a disaster
we try and deny, our repetition is our response.
From the earliest days, a story has been repeated that is
different from our own. Initially, it was a simple rumor
that the body had been stolen by the disciples. In our
modern world, you’ll hear some claim that Jesus was
resurrected in the collective memory of those who treasured
His teaching. And when some one claims to find the bone of
Jesus in a da Vinci Code style, even faithful Catholics are
tuned in.
But, really, what’s the big deal? What does it matter
if Jesus was raised only symbolically in the faith of
believers? Wouldn’t that be good enough to inspire
the good works of generations of Christians who built
schools, hospitals and shelters?
Absolutely not. Literally, it would not be good enough.
While our better virtues could be inspired by such a faith,
our fallen nature would remain just that – fallen. In
the resurrected human body of Jesus, our scarred humanity
rises. What is easily destroyed by sin and death is now
graced and victorious. From the Garden of Eden, things went
wrong. Something more than good thoughts was needed.
Humanity required redemption in the same way it lost its
sanctity. In Christ, as an ancient prayer says, man redeems
man, like is saved by like. This is the ultimate vaccine.
This is total salvation – of soul, of mind and of
body.
This morning, one of the greatest meditations written on
this wonder is read at Tenebrae, a morning prayer on these
three privileged days. It is a reflection on the harrowing
of hell as the risen Christ descends to the prison our sins
have fortified. And in our weakness of body and soul, by
celebrating this night we know the beginnings of that
freedom as well. This anonymous author writes:
Something strange is happening – there is a
great silence on earth today, a great silence and
stillness. The whole earth keeps silence because the King
is asleep. The earth trembled and is still because God has
fallen asleep in the flesh and he has raised up all who
have slept ever since the world began. God has died in the
flesh and hell trembles with fear.
He has gone to search for our first parents, as for a lost
sheep. Greatly desiring to visit those who live in darkness
and in the shadow of death, he has gone to free from sorrow
the captives Adam and Eve, he who is both God and the son
of Eve. The Lord approached them bearing the cross, the
weapon that had won him the victory. At the sight of him
Adam, the first man he had created, struck his breast in
terror and cried out to everyone: “My Lord be with
you all”. Christ answered him: “And with your
spirit”. He took him by the hand and raised him up,
saying: “Awake, O sleeper, and rise from the dead,
and Christ will give you light”.
I am your God, who for your sake have become your son. Out
of love for you and for your descendants I now by my own
authority command all who are held in bondage to come
forth, all who are in darkness to be enlightened, all who
are sleeping to arise. I order you, O sleeper, to awake. I
did not create you to be kept a prisoner in hell. Rise from
the dead, for I am the life of the dead. Rise up, work of
my hands, you who were created in my image. Rise, let us
leave this place, for you are in me and I am in you;
together we form only one person and we cannot be
separated. For your sake I, your God, became your son; I,
the Lord, took the form of a slave; I, whose home is above
the heavens, descended to the earth and beneath the earth.
For your sake, for the sake of man, I became like a man
without help, free among the dead. For the sake of you, who
left a garden, I was betrayed in a garden, and I was
crucified in a garden.
See on my face the spittle I received in order to restore
to you the life I once breathed into you. See there the
marks of the blows I received in order to refashion your
warped nature in my image. On my back see the marks of the
scourging I endured to remove the burden of sin that weighs
upon your back. See my hands, nailed firmly to a tree, for
you who once so wickedly stretched out your hand to a tree.
I slept on the cross and a sword pierced my side for you
who slept in paradise and brought forth Eve from your side.
My side has healed the pain in yours. My sleep will rouse
you from your sleep in hell. The sword that pierced me has
sheathed the sword that was turned against you.
Rise, let us leave this place. The enemy led you out of the
earthly paradise. I will not restore you to that paradise,
but I will enthrone you in heaven. I forbade you the tree
that was only a symbol of life, but see, I who am life
itself am now one with you. I appointed cherubim to guard
you as slaves are guarded, but now I make them worship you
as God. The throne formed by cherubim awaits you, its
bearers swift and eager. The bridal chamber is adorned, the
banquet is ready, the eternal dwelling places are prepared,
the treasure houses of all good things lie open. The
kingdom of heaven has been prepared for you from all
eternity.