Silence at the empty tomb

A reading from the holy gospel according to John (20, 1-9)

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. This is the word of the Lord.

 Listen here

The other day I was listening to Giuseppe Verdi’s Requiem with its beautiful, dramatic and tremendous music. It is awe-inspiring! It is not the first time I listened to it, but I was deeply impressed by the words and music of the Dies Irae, the Sequence that speaks of the coming Judgement Day, the Dies Irae, the Day of Wrath. The fourth stanza presents Death stupefied when it sees all creatures awakening in answer to the call for everybody to stand before the judgement Throne. The Requiem is a Mass for the Dead. It is not an Easter celebration. But it was Lent and I was thinking of Easter. Imbued as I was with Verdi’s music, I imagined Death dumbfounded, astonished and speechless at the resurrection of humankind on Judgement Day. I thought, how much more wordless must have Death been on that first Easter Sunday when Jesus resurrected to life on his own power. The Easter sequence we read today tells us that “Death and life contended in a spectacular battle: the Prince of life, who died, reigns alive”.

Master what do you say?

Early in the morning Jesus came again to the temple. All the people came to him and he sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before all of them, they said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, sir.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.” (John 8, 1-11)

Through the prophet Isaiah, today God tells us: "I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?" I love these words because they tell me two things. First, they tell me that God is a creator God and that even today he is creating new things. He never stopped his work of creation. Second, they invite me to pay attention to what is happening around me. A Christian cannot live without being aware of God’s work, because he wants our help, not in order to create new things but as witnesses and as his messengers to all the people of God. This is our vocation. If we listen attentively to his words we will help in the building of a new world of justice and peace.

About returning home

Often during the year, and especially during Lent, the Catholic Church invites us to turn from our sins through repentance and confession. Some people are afraid to approach the priest for confession. The Church understands this very human feeling, and she teaches us that we must resist the temptation of the devil if we wish to live in peace with a pure heart.

Jesus teaches us that God is a father who loves us. When a disciple asked Jesus to teach them to pray, Jesus replied: "When you pray say: Father! Hallowed be Thy name!" These words are very important because we use them to talk with our God. St. Paul said: "For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name"(Eph 3, 14-15). This prayer is very beautiful because it reminds us that we are children of God and, as the Apostle Paul teaches us, we can cry, “Abba! Father!" (Rom 8, 15). Do not, therefore, be afraid of a father who is as good as our God.