1st Reading Genesis 1:1-2:2 (Ps. 104; R. cf. 30)
2nd Reading Genesis 22:1-18 (Ps. 16; R. 1)
3rd Reading Exodus 14:15-15:1 (Ps. Exod. 15; R.1b)
4th Reading Isaiah 54:5-14 (Ps. 30; R. 2a)
5th Reading Isaiah 55:1-11 (Isa. 12; R. 3)
6th Reading Baruch 3:9-15, 32-4:4 (Ps. 19; R. Jn. 6:68c)
7th Reading Ezekiel 36:16-17a, 18-28 (Ps. 42; R. 42:2)
Epistle Romans 6:3-11
Gospel Matthew 28:1-10
COME AND SEE THE PLACE HE LAY
Friends, Pax et Bonum! We welcome ourselves to the Vigil of the Resurrection of the Lord. This is the Vigil of vigils. It is the mother of all vigils. In today's, celebration, we shall have the Lucernarium, which is the blessing of the Fire and the preparation of the candle. We shall have the Mass within which we shall have Baptism, where candidates are prepared. In today's Mass, we shall listen to a series of readings, comprising seven Old Testament passages, one Epistle from Romans 6:3-11, and the Gospel, depending on the particular liturgical year. Because we are in Year A, we shall take the Gospel from Matthew 28:1-10.
I propose that we look at a few thoughts from the Gospel (Matthew 28:1-10). The passage is Matthew's account of the experience of the resurrection of Jesus. It is a very rich text. However, let us confine ourselves to three important details.
The first point of interest is the TIME the author gives. Thus, "after the Sabbath, towards the dawn of the first day of the week..." (Matt. 28:1). The author situates the whole encounter within this specified time frame. The author could have avoided it. For whatever reason (s), he mentioned it. Let us begin to unpack this time by looking at "FIRST DAY". The expression is "Mia Sabbatōn". This is an expression for "new week".
In fact, the phrase "FIRST DAY" itself sends us back to Genesis 1:3-5. That is where we primarily met the phrase "first day" ('echad yôm). On this first day of creation, LIGHT was created. It becomes interesting because in God's 'new week' of creation, Light was created, and it was at "DAWN", when darkness was giving way to light that the women went to the tomb. More than that, we begin to see that Christ becomes the LIGHT, dispelling the darkness of the world.
If we are invited to see, then the question is "What are we to see?" Simply, come and see the Light. Come and see and experience a new beginning, a fresh start. Come and see the very power that can control and dispel the darkness of the world. In fact, that power is at work.
The second detail should answer the question, "How should we approach the Light, the new hope and opportunity?" This lies in the doubly-repeated command "DO NOT BE AFRAID". This was said by the Angel of the Lord and by Jesus himself. The women came to the tomb to see Jesus, yet met "the angel of the Lord" whose appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. On sighting him, the guards became like dead men. The women were, however, told not to be "afraid".
The first reaction to such a scene would be fear. However, whenever there is authentic divine revelation, there is always the calming of fear and the awakening of faith. Their fear is not denied. It is rather transformed into joy and confidence. If we are to "Come and See" the light, then the way to approach the light would be with Joy. Jesus' resurrection calms our fears, our torrents, and our raging waters. The resurrection transforms them so that we go back transformed. We come with fear of any kind, but the resurrection makes it joy.
The third detail is the command "GO TO GALILEE" (Matt. 28:7, 10). The Gospel according to Matthew alone stressed the command to go to Galilee. Why Galilee? Remember that Jesus begins his ministry in Galilee (Matt. 4:12-17). The author wants to bring us back to Galilee, where it all started. The resurrection points back there.
Recall also that Galilee was described as "Galilee of the Gentiles" (Matt. 4:15; Isa. 9:1). The mention of 'Gentiles' could imply the sense of universality because a Gentile (a non-Jew) could be in Galilee. Galilee, therefore, is a place of mixture. You do not find only Jews there, but Gentiles also settle there. Galilee is a symbol of universal outreach. Going to Galilee to meet Jesus indicates that the Good News is for all, not just Jews (Matt. 28:19).
Also, Galilee is where Jesus first called His disciples (Matt. 4:18-22). It is the place of their original vocation. The Resurrection sends them back to their roots. Why? To begin again.
If we are invited to see the light and approach it with joy, then that joy should lead us back to our original state, our initial call. No more locked in sin without redemption, but a return to the Garden of Eden. The gates of the Garden have been opened again. As you see and are joyful, do not only return to your original, God-endowed state, but share that call, that state with others. Be a witness.
Pax et Bonum
Thank you for sharing . Amazing!
ReplyDeleteMay God be praised 🙏
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