Summary of a Fr. Gerry Creedon homily from March 25, 2007
"So Jesus said to them, 'Untie him and let him go free.'" Jn 11:45
"It was early, early all in the Spring/ the small birds whistle and did sweetly sing/ changing their notes from tree to tree/ and the song they sang was old Ireland free." As a Lenten discipline, I have been learning the words of some songs. This one is an old ballad from the Wexford Rising of 1798. The daffodils and blossoming trees of March as well as the singing birds, proclaim the end of winter's captivity. Freedom is in the air.
Lent is our Spring preparation for the glorious freedom of Easter.
For the Irish, and for the people of Israel, Passover is inextricably linked with liberation. The Easter Rising in 1916 which gave birth to Irish Independence, coincided with Easter Monday. For God's people, the death and resurrection of Jesus takes place within the context of the Feast of Passover, when the Exodus from Egypt's oppression is celebrated. Jesus' words to Lazarus from today's readings, "Untie him and let him go." are reminiscent of God's call to Moses "Let my people go." A few weeks ago in the Transfiguration story, Jesus is pictured at Moses' side.
Our candidates for Easter baptism are preparing for the waters of the Red Sea and the Jordan River. The font signals the completion of the journey to a promised land. The light of the Easter fire and the Paschal candle proclaim an end to sin's slavery, as surely as the sun of spring leaves behind the long nights of winter.
The whole congregation is called to join our baptismal candidates in the search for Easter's freedom. On April 2nd, 14 priests will join us to celebrate reconciliation. It is a time to renew our baptismal commitment. Let us untie the bonds that hold us.
In today's ordinary reading, Jesus offers the hand of acceptance to a woman caught in the act of adultery. While the officials would stone her, he offers forgiveness. Whatever happened to her sexual partner? Those who would punish would do so with an arbitrary judgment. Not only sexual irresponsibility but righteousness, arrogance and sexism, come under the Savior's merciful and freeing judgment.
May our whole church say yes once more this Easter to the freeing waters of a new Exodus.