He Is Not In The Tomb
Summary of a Fr. Gerry Creedon homily from April 07, 2007
"He is not in the tomb, He has risen as He said." Luke 24:6
My father died on Easter Saturday in 1986. Before he began each day, he fed the birds. I have continued that custom in my own life. Before I read the scripture of the day, I feed the birds. Yesterday when I did so, I could not believe my eyes; snow all around. I wondered if this were Christmas in April! Then I wondered if the light snow was the manna or hoar frost that fed Moses and his companions in the Exodus.
At Easter we look for signs of spring; daffodils, greening grass. 18 people joined the RCIA program and join us tonight looking for signs of new life. As well as the natural signs of nature, there are the classical symbols of the church.
Tonight we light the Paschal candle from the Easter fire, signaling the end of winter's darkness. We plunge into the water of our baptism as surely as the Israelites waded into the Red Sea and the Jordan river. Water brings freedom from slavery and oppression. Following baptism, our candidates will be christened with Chrism. The olive oil brings back memories of the dove with the olive branch in its beak that brought hope for a new world to Noah and his companions. The oil also signifies the power of the Spirit to witness to truth and justice. We look for the bread of life so that we too can be broken, to bring life to others. The red wine recalls the cruel death of the Lord; yet it is also the wine of gladness and the cup of salvation.
Beyond all these signs is the primordial sacrament. He is not in the tomb, He has risen as he said. He has gone before you into Galilee where you will see Him. He has gone before into all the towns and villages of our world, wherever people are gathered.
18 new members of our church initiated through Easter Sacraments believe that they will find signs of the Risen Lord among US! Despite scandal and sin, you and I are called to be the living sign of His Risen Life for them, and others. The renewal of our baptismal promises is our opportunity to take on this role; to be the sacrament of His Resurrection.
