Easter Monday. A day still of celebration, but without elaborate, once-a-year liturgies. A day to say “Alleluia!” A day to relax and reflect. A day to “come down from the mountain” of high worship in the Triduum. A day to eat leftovers of the feast, to maybe sleep in a bit. And, maybe, a day to reflect on “What does Easter mean this year in terms of my practical life?”
The characters in our readings today are answering that question for themselves.
Peter
The first reading is from Peter’s homily on Pentecost Sunday—49 days from now. But it surely speaks of what is going through his head today. Easter Sunday was quite a day for Peter. After the humiliation and sorrow of Jesus’ look at him as the cock sounded Good Friday morning, Easter Sunday found Peter with the other disciples when word came from Mary Magdalene that Jesus had risen from the dead. She had seen him! Peter ran to see the empty tomb.
I imagine extroverted Peter peppered Magdalene and the other women with questions all day long. I can see him saying “well, you know, this is what he must have meant by ‘on the third day I will rise from the dead!’” Then, on Easter Sunday night, Peter would have been in the Upper Room with doors locked when Jesus came, breathed on them, and said, “Do not be afraid.” And, into the night, Peter would have listened to the disciples returning from Emmaus tell of Jesus walking with them, of their burning hearts, of how he revealed himself in the breaking of the bread. What a day Peter had on Easter Sunday! So what Peter said on Pentecost probably speaks his heart on Easter Monday. He’s ablaze!
Magdalene
Magdalene and the other women had quite a day on Easter, too. Mary Magdalene was the first apostle, the first one Jesus sent to proclaim the Resurrection. She proclaimed it to the other disciples, as the short version of the story in Matthew describes today. Then she disappeared from scripture, though various legends and stories tell of her continued witness. What must she have been thinking and feeling on Easter Monday? There must have been incredulity and joy…and thoughts such as these:
“Would Jesus be back with them? Would the band of disciples continue as it had, but with Jesus resurrected? Would people believe in him now? If the religious leaders came and killed them, would they be resurrected, too?” Mary, too, must surely have been on fire with excitement and hope.
The Chief Priests
The religious leaders who put Jesus to death were not so happy on Easter Monday. They had to have been frightened and confused. Even though many of them believed in the resurrection of the dead, they believed in it at the end of time. They had heard Jesus argue with them, especially during Holy Week. (See Matthew 21-24). Jesus had said some harsh things to them and told them he was the Son of God and would rise. Though perhaps something in him pricked at their consciences, they dismissed him as a blasphemous trouble-maker. But if he rose from the dead? What did that mean for all they believed? Had they tried to murder God?
But they must not have truly questioned themselves on Easter Sunday because they chose evil, They forged a lie and a cover up. They gave the solders money and told them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him while we were asleep.’ And if this get to the ears of the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.”
The Soldiers Guarding the Tomb
The soldiers knew the Truth. Some of them must have eventually told the truth, because the Gospels tell of the rolling away of the stone, the blinding light, and their being overpowered, not asleep. But the truth put them in jeopardy. They had let the unbelievable happen. Even though they knew the truth, they agreed to propagate the lie. They did it well. Matthew, writing decades later notes, “And this story has circulated among the Jews to the present day.”
And What of Us?
Thanks to livestreaming and access to written reflections from across the world, my heart and mind are filled with Easter fire as I write this. But how do I apply it? Honestly, I’m still too much in the middle of it all to put it in order. So I will conclude with part of a reflection written by Fr. Jeff Kirby and published on Crux. You can read his whole reflection here. He speaks to my heart for where I need to go on Easter Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday….
From Father Kirby:
“The Resurrection is an unparalleled action in human history. But how was it revealed to the first apostles? The Resurrection reveals truth that has no equal. What lesson, then, could the Resurrection have for our world in the throes of this COVID-19 pandemic?
The Bible tells us that after the Lord’s burial, his apostles – who were told about the Resurrection by the Lord Jesus himself, but who couldn’t understand what he was talking about – retreated and placed themselves behind locked doors.
While for different reasons, many believers nonetheless find themselves behind locked doors this Easter Sunday. Fear of disease and charity for one’s neighbor have compelled Christians, and all people of goodwill, to nobly sequester themselves and voluntarily observe a self-quarantine.
On the first Easter Sunday, however, the locked doors of the Upper Room had no bearing on the Lord’s testimony. We are told that the Risen Christ went to his apostles, passing through the locked doors and any presumed barrier, and joyfully announced to them the liberating declaration: “Peace be with you.”
In similar fashion, on this Easter Sunday, as individual believers and Christian families are in their homes, united by livestreamed worship, but away from the physical gatherings of their regular faith communities, the Lord Jesus passes through any distance, and declares to each and every one of his followers: “Peace be with you.”
As the Risen Christ brought peace to his apostles, he also presented his evidence. We are told, “When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.” Words need deeds, and deeds manifest truth. And so, the Lord Jesus showed them his sacred wounds. He unveiled before them the cause of his death. By doing so, he revealed his power over them. He showed that the sufferings and sorrows of this world have no authority over him or the workings of his grace.
In our world today, COVID-19 appears to be an unassailable enemy that has unrestrained power to provoke fear, anxiety, confusion, and to cause pain and death. And like death itself, COVID-19 seems unstoppable. In this arena, however, the Lord shows us his wounds. He once again reminds us of the authority that comes from above. The Lord summons us to a life of hope and calls us to be instruments of peace.
In such a life, there is no room for fear, distress, or self-pity. We have work to do! It’s time for prayer. It’s time to do the outreach that’s available to us. It’s time for acts of kindness, patience, and compassion. It’s time to get out of our spiritual caves and to live as the children of the Resurrection.
Prayer:
Lord, show me the work you would have me do. For you ARE RISEN! You go before us. Lead me, guide me, Lord.
