Cycle A Easter Vigil



Gn 1:1-2:2; Rm 6:3-11; Mt 28:1-10

The concept of death as a sentient entity has existed since the beginning of history.  Man found Death to be inevitable. Death was a part of his daily experience. He experienced the death of plants, insects, animals and his own fellow men. Man thought that there is no remedy for death.
This thought was expressed by Anne Boleyn in her poetry.

O DEATH, rock me asleep,
Bring me to quiet rest,
Let pass my weary guiltless ghost
Out of my careful breast.
Toll on, thou passing bell;
Ring out my doleful knell;
Let thy sound my death tell.
Death doth draw nigh;
There is no remedy.

Since death was perceived as an entity without remedy, man’s reaction to death also took various forms. Some were terrified. Some froze at the thought that they have to accept it one day. Some tried to find means to avoid it. Thus people wishing to escape death turned to the supernatural world for answers. Many Indian fables and tales include instances of metempsychosis - the ability to jump into another body - in order to live a longer life. The medieval alchemists searched for the Philosopher’s Stone. More modern religious mystics believed in the possibility of achieving physical immortality through spiritual transformation.

The death of Joshua ben Levi is surrounded with a web of fable. When the time came for him to die and the Angel of Death appeared to him, he demanded to be shown his place in paradise. When the angel had consented to this, he demanded the angel's knife, that the angel might not frighten him by the way. This request also was granted him, and Joshua sprang with the knife over the wall of paradise; the angel, who is not allowed to enter paradise, caught hold of the end of his garment. Joshua swore that he would not come out, and God declared that he should not leave paradise unless he was absolved from his oath; if not absolved, he was to remain.”

This desire of man to enter into a world, where death cannot enter has been experienced as a concrete reality with the resurrection of Jesus.  Immortality has been a subject of fascination to humanity since the beginning of known history. What form an unending human life would take, or whether an immaterial soul exists and possesses immortality? It has been a major point of focus of religion, as well as the subject of speculation, fantasy, and debate. The resurrection of Jesus is the final answer to the human quest for immortality.

The angel said, "He has been raised from the dead." [Mt. 28:7] These words of the angel summarize the mystery that man had been trying to unfold. 

Today’s readings lead us step by step through the preparation that God had been making for many centuries to empower us to accept the reality of the resurrection of Jesus. The First Reading from the Book of Genesis [Gen. 1:1-2:2] indicated that everything that God had made, was very good. [Gen. 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25, 31]  God saw that His creation was good, so all of it must serve a purpose in His Divine progressive plan.
Then, we are reminded us of the test of Abraham’s faith, and God’s mighty acts to free the children of Israel from the Egyptian slavery.  God command Abraham to go and sacrifice his only son Isaac. Because he obeyed the Lord, the Lord promised to Abraham that He would make his    off-springs as numerous as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore [Gen. 22:17] The other readings recount the promise of the Lord God to have compassion for us, that He would be our Redeemer, and His invitation to abundant life.

The Gospel of Matthew [Mt. 28:1-10] recounts the events surrounding the glorious Resurrection of the Lord Jesus. When Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb early on the Sunday morning, they were greeted by an angel who told them that Jesus had been raised. Accordingly, the women should go and announce the good news to the disciples, telling them to go to Galilee where they will see Jesus again.
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary experienced the reality of the resurrection of Jesus, and they were given a mission. “Go and announce the good news”. Today the church gives the same mission. “Go and announce to the world this good news.” Announce that we have found the means to immortality”.  St. Paul reminds us that through the Sacrament of Baptism, we have been raised with Him so that we may walk in the newness of life.

Our experience of the resurrection of Jesus should help us to walk in the newness of life. That is the proof that we can give to our fellow men that we have found the secret of our life. That our life is not something to end with our grave. That our life is not to be wasted in petty transitory things of this world. That our life has meaning and our aim is to enter into the world of eternal life. In our flight into eternity do not allow anything to hold us back as Joshua was held by the angel of death for the knife.

St. Paul’s experience of Jesus had changed him from a man who had been trying to uproot the Christians into a man who had dedicated his life to firmly root Christianity in Rome and the surrounding nations. The experience of St Francis transformed him from a seeker of worldly glory to a man who dedicated every moment to glorify God. Our experience of the resurrection of Jesus should help us to set our goals above this world.  “Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth.[Col.3:2], teaches St. Paul. Let us pray with Rabindranath Tagore, “Give me the strength to raise my mind high above daily trifles.”

Satish