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Christmas Versus Easter +++++++++++++++++++
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Easter is different from
Christmas. Christmas is an event that took place once and for all
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Easter ends with two men and a
woman standing before an empty tomb
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In a nutshell, Easter stands in
stark witness to the meaning of what it is to go on despite death, to go on in
the face of death, to go on because of death
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I am suggesting that for us to
celebrate Easter means to stand in the light of the empty tomb and decide what
to do next with our lives
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There are two men and a woman who
were touched deeply, people whose lives were transformed by standing before the
empty tomb and who they were before the tomb is different from who they are
after it
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Their transformation can show us
the effect the empty tomb of Easter can have on us, as we stand there as well
Mary Mag: Clinging Believer 2 Proclaimer
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The first person to look at is
Mary of Magdala. Mary is the one who has followed Jesus all her life; she’s
never doubted him; she’s with him all the way to the cross
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She is a woman with great insight
and a great commitment, but she is more of a believer than a proclaimer
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Mary sees the tomb open, but she
doesn’t go in. She is afraid or perhaps she knows that whatever is going on in
that tomb is going to demand even more than she’s already given. Perhaps the
idea of doing more or doing it differently is what stops her where she stands
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Mary comes to the place where it
was clear that failure lays; Jesus evidently failed in his mission and his life
has ended in disgrace. She comes in the faith, of course, that what had come to
life in her because of Jesus would not die. Not in her. Faith would be enough
for her
APPLICATION ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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She is the part of us that takes
pride in our “Catholicity.” We’re faithful to our parish; we join committees;
we support our church by giving regularly. Like Mary Magdalene we cling to
Jesus and his church
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But clinging to him is precisely
what Jesus doesn’t want of us. He wants us to speak out about him, to witness
to his presence among the ill and the needy, the frail elderly, and the physically
and mentally challenged
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He wants us to speak out against
sexism wherever we find it. To give voice to those who have little of no voice
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He wants more than passive
belief. He wants her and us to be his living voice, risen from the grave
Conclusion
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Today we all come to the empty
tomb and must leave to return to our living life in community, at work, and at
play
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Mary Magdalene came to the tomb
as a clinging believer; she leaves a woman ready to proclaim good news to
anyone who will listen to her
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Peter came as a realist; he
leaves as a risk-taker and in the end he is martyred for his faith
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John came as a contemplative; he
leaves knowing it could all end right here, but he chooses to act out of his prayer
to bring others to faith
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And you? How have you come and,
facing a seeming tragedy, how do you leave? Easter demands as much of us today,
as it did of the disciples then
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