Puzzled, Amazed, and Confused by "Nonsense"

Homily for the Easter Vigil

Saint Luke informs us in chapter eight of his Gospel that Jesus moved from town to town in Galilee accompanied by the apostles “and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their resources.” In chapter twenty-three, Saint Luke tells us that: “All his acquaintances stood at a distance, including the women who had followed him from Galilee and saw these events.” It is this same group of women who venture out at daybreak on the first day of the week to complete the burial rites that were interrupted at sundown on Good Friday. Saint Luke tells us that they are puzzled or confused by what they do not find; namely, the body of Jesus. Then they find themselves face-to-face with two heavenly creatures who announce that Jesus has been raised. This news confuses them even more, but then these angels remind them of Jesus’ words regarding his death. This prompts them to return to Jerusalem and to announce the news to the apostles. Peter goes to the tomb and looks in, catching sight of the burial cloths. The Gospel tells us that he is amazed and that he returns home. The one thing that is missing from this account is any mention of belief or faith. We hear of confusion, amazement, and, of particular note, nonsense.

Scholars refer to this story and the others like it as empty tomb stories. Each of the Gospels include such a story. An empty tomb really proves very little, for the body could have been stolen. However, there is that little nagging detail about the burial cloths. If someone had robbed the tomb, they would hardly have unwrapped the body as they took it away.

Throughout the coming week, Easter week, we will hear seven stories of the appearance of the risen Lord. Though we are not given the details, we even hear that Jesus appeared to as many as five hundred people at one time. The appearance stories are critical to our faith. It is these stories that enabled hundreds of Christian people to go to their deaths at the hands of unbelievers. We refer to these peoples as martyrs. During the Easter season, the Church gives special attention to martyrs whose feasts fall within the seven weeks of Easter.

It is in the seventh of those appearance stories that the evangelist John includes us. When Jesus addresses Thomas in the upper room, he calls those of us who have believed without seeing him as blessed. Our faith has been handed on to us by others who have believed. We have heard the Gospel and have placed our faith in the risen Lord Jesus.

Each time we gather around this altar, we do so to remember what Jesus has done for us. Like the women in this Gospel story, we remember his words. Each time we take bread and wine and repeat the words of Jesus over them, our faith tells us that he is really present to us. Though we cannot see him, we love him and believe in him. We put our faith in him. This world offers us very little by comparison. The life, passion, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus, and the coming of the Holy Spirit – all of which compose the Paschal Mystery – come to life for us each time we receive the body and blood of Jesus in the Eucharist. We have spent six weeks in preparation for this feast. Now the Church offers us seven weeks to allow the various component parts of that mystery to blossom and bloom in our lives. We are an