Weekly HOMILY for April 8, 2007: Why do you search for the Living One among the dead?

Easter Sunday, Cycle C
Our Lady of Grace
April 8, 2007

Why do you search for the living One among the dead?
By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato


The Two Angels at the Tomb of Jesus

“Why do you search for the living One among the dead?”

This morning, I think it is good for us to allow this question in today’s Gospel to be asked directly to ourselves. “Why do you or I search for the living One among the dead?”

Today is a day of great celebration for us Catholics and all Christians. We sing: “Christ is risen! Alleluia!”

But the truth of the matter is that many of us struggle with our faith in that very fact: Did Jesus really rise from the dead?

Will we really rise from the dead? Is there a resurrection, a life after death?


Messengers of Life and Messengers of God

I would submit that one reason for this struggle with faith is that we, in fact, “Looking for the living One among the dead” – to use the words of our Gospel passage.

Yes, we are quote, “among the dead” when cynicism holds us back from loving or when fear paralyzes us from really living. I believe we are “among the dead” when loneliness overcomes us or when prejudice blinds us to truth or goodness.

In being part of these experiences, we have, in effect, one foot in the grave. And it can be very difficult from that place we stand, to trust in a loving God or even believe in a risen Savior.

In the face of this, today’s Gospel tells us that some of Jesus’ friends find his tomb empty and they are bewildered and confused. And then the Gospel says, “While they were at a loss what to think of this, two men in dazzling garments appeared beside them.”

The two individuals are not identified, but our tradition sees them as messengers of God, as divine spokespersons, as angels. And these two messengers speak the key words: “Why are you looking for the living One among the dead?”

I would like to suggest that you and I, right from within our everyday lives, have similar messengers of God, similar divine spokespersons, similar angels.

Yes, we might very well have individuals who steer us away from “looking for the living One among the dead” and actually take us to the places and experiences where we can find “the living One.”


Angel of Trust

I would like to suggest that most of us have an angel of trust in our lives.

For example, a mother instinctively reassures her frightened little boy when he wakes up in the middle of the night. She says, “Everything’s going to be all right” as she holds him close.

Is she lying? Or naïve? Or is she expressing a profound truth about the ultimate goodness of life?

Is she not instinctively saying what Jesus himself believed as he commended his life to the Father on the cross? Today is the day to remember your angel of trust.

See if that divine messenger doesn’t also reassure you that everything’s going to be all right. And see if that assurance doesn’t lead you to say today with trust: “Christ is risen! Alleluia!”


Angel of Hope

I think that most of us also have an angel of hope in our lives.

We see this angel in someone refuses to get down in the dumps, no matter what. As a priest, I have seen this with people who are sick and even actively dying.

Yes, there are people who refuse to give in to their sadness and are able to see even their illness as leading to something greater, in some way to greater life.

Today try name the angel of hope in your life.

See if that divine messenger does not call forth the very best in you. And see if that leads you to say today with hope: “Christ is risen! Alleluia!”


Angel of Humor

Finally, I think most of us have an angel of humor in our lives.

I remember years ago leading the graveside prayers for my father’s funeral. My brother and I were grieving, but then I came to the words in the ritual about coming to the heavenly banquet.

Well, my father really, really enjoyed food, and I instinctively looked up from the funeral book and said something like “Dad must really be enjoying this whole thing now.” We all had a good laugh and even though I did not understand it then, I do now.

Our humor and laughter is a sign, a signal that death is not the last word and that life ultimately wins out. Today is the time to identify the angel of humor in your life.

See if that divine messenger does not draw you more fully into life. And see if that doesn’t help you to say with joy: “Christ is risen! Alleluia!”


Conclusion

So, “Why do you seek the living One among the dead?” A good question for us today as we answer it with, “Seek the living One among the living!”

Seek the living One in our experiences, in our divine messengers, in our angels of trust and hope and humor.

Only then will we be better able to take the risk of faith and to believe in the risen Christ and in our own future life with him.