Pope Benedict XVI in his second volume of Jesus of Nazareth, commented on how the resurrection utterly exceeded the disciples’ expectations. The fact was clear. He was alive. They had heard him, seen him, looked upon him and touched him with their hands; this they could not deny. But they still struggled to express and make sense of their experience. However, little by little they could pick up resonances with the Scriptures, most especially, the fact that he did not experience corruption in the grave and that the suffering servant of Isaiah seemed to correspond exactly with what happened to him. The more they returned to the Scriptures and re-read them, and the more they kept his memorial in the breaking of the bread, the more they understood the immensity of the mystery. Our vigil this morning is intended to help us move through this same progression. We, too, by listening to the Scriptures and by gathering for the memorial of what Jesus did in the breaking of the bread, will recognize the risen Lord in our midst.
I mention this, because we can become all too familiar with the Easter story and take it for granted. The newness and amazement can wear off. Take this example: the women who came to anoint the body of Jesus. How many times have we heard this story? We know all the punch lines. But can we really imagine the scene? We have a group of women traveling early at the break of dawn to the tomb of a convicted and crucified enemy of the state and, apparently, of their own religion. Any association with Jesus could put them at risk for harassment, including the suspicion of trying to steal his body, and for this be severely punished. But they were not intimidated.
Then they had their encounter with a young man in the tomb. Of all things, a man sitting there, seemingly waiting for their arrival. His clothing was enough to make him suspect—a white robe in a dark tomb. But his announcement was even more disturbing. He knew exactly why they had come. He gave them no polite welcome, just an abrupt statement, as though he had read their minds: “You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified. He has risen; he is not here.” Is it any wonder that the women were not only amazed but trembling and bewildered? Tell me: how often have you run into an angel at the break of dawn who read your thoughts and questions and supplied an answer…not to mention sending you on a mission to tell others about something that totally transcended human experience.
The resurrection is the ultimate overflowing of Jesus’ self-gift for his Church. We will always have trouble expressing all that is contained in this reality. The resurrection of Jesus is like the water flowing down from the right side of the temple in Ezekiel’s vision, gathering depth and width, creating first a stream, then a river, then a fresh water sea where the fish and the birds and the humans can refresh themselves. It is the source of our hope and the basis of our religion. Tonight, the Risen One will set our hearts on fire as he opens the Scriptures for us and breaks the bread. Let us follow him on the way.
