First Reading

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans (6:3-11)

Brothers and sisters: Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life.

For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his, we shall also be united with him in the resurrection. We know that our old self was crucified with him, so that our sinful body might be done away with, that we might no longer be in slavery to sin. For a dead person has been absolved from sin. If, then, we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him.

We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more; death no longer has power over him. As to his death, he died to sin once and for all; as to his life, he lives for God. Consequently, you too must think of yourselves as being dead to sin and living for God in Christ Jesus.

(P) The word of the Lord.
(R) Thanks be to God.

Gospel

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (24:1-12)

At daybreak on the first day of the week the women who had come from Galilee with Jesus took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb; but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were puzzling over this, behold, two men in dazzling garments appeared to them. They were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground. They said to them, "Why do you seek the living one among the dead? He is not here, but has been raised. Remember what he said to you while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners and be crucified, and rise on the third day." And they remembered his words.

Then they returned from the tomb and announced all these things to the eleven and to all the others. The women were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James; the others who accompanied them also told this to the apostles, but their story seemed like nonsense and they did not believe them. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb, bent down, and saw the burial clothes alone; then he went home amazed at what had happened.

(P) The Gospel of the Lord.
(R) Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Homily

Once, a husband and wife were at a dinner party. While talking to some of their friends, the topic of marriage cropped up. Someone suggested to them to try marriage counseling. "Oh, we'll never need that. My husband and I have a great relationship", the wife explains, "he is a communications consultant and I am an actress. He talks really well to me, and I pretend to listen."

After hearing four Old Testament readings and then the Epistle with accompanying responsorial psalms and Gospel I wonder how many of you would be still interested to hear me preach. Some of you perhaps would act and pretend to be interested. Anyway I'll try to keep you awake.

What does Jesus' resurrection mean to you personally?

Holy Saturday is a time between the darkness of Good Friday and the brightness of Easter Sunday. It was a time of great darkness for the apostles. They had put all their trust and hope in Jesus while he was with them. But with the death of Jesus they seemed to have lost everything and they were full of fear to see what might happen next. And what did happen two days after the death of Jesus was more amazing than anything they might have hoped for. The gospels do not describe the Resurrection of Jesus for it was an event which could not be seen. However, the gospels narrate the experiences of the disciples from the moment some women of Galilee saw the empty tomb. They went expecting to do the very last thing which they could do for their friend and Lord Jesus - to honor him by anointing his body.

Now, some might ask why the body of Jesus was not anointed before the burial as was the Jewish custom. There are some differences between the gospels regarding the details. In fact, John says that the body of Jesus was anointed and wrapped before his burial whereas the gospel of Mark and Luke mention that the women went to anoint the body on the third day. One of the reasons probably was the time of Jesus' death. Since Jesus had to be quickly buried before the Sabbath began at sunset they might have not done a proper anointing. And they could not do it on the Sabbath day either. Therefore the women returned the day after the Sabbath intending to complete the anointing. But the story says when they arrived at the tomb and found the tomb open and empty. Imagine! What they must have gone through at the time. Not only had their friend been killed, now even his body had disappeared.

But then, they suddenly saw two men in dazzling white clothes. They bowed their heads in fear. Because they thought that they were angels and they did what many others before them had done - humbly bowing in the presence of the holy. They found light and courage in the midst of darkness and fear. They were reminded of the words of Jesus on his own suffering, death and resurrection. It reminds us when we bow our heads humbly before the Holy One of God, He would speak to us in many ways. They immediately brought the message to the other disciples including Peter, and later on they were also amazed at what had happened.

Today's liturgy helps us to understand and experience as much as possible the first Easter experience. So we began this evening with the Church in darkness, symbolizing the darkness and emptiness in our life. Then we were reminded of the salvation history, recounting the great stories from the Old Testament - how God was always reaching out to people; how God saved the Israelites from Egyptian slavery, and brought them to a land of peace and freedom; and yet, how the people, through selfishness, pride, arrogance and indifference forgot their God and finally how God calls every one to accept His plan of salvation through His Son Jesus Christ. The whole of the human race gains everything including eternal life through the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Yesterday (Good Friday) we reflected upon the question Jesus put to the soldiers and guards when they came to arrest him, "Whom are you looking for?" He said, "I AM" referring to the name of God. Today the angels ask the women, "Why do you seek the living one among the dead?" In other words they were reminded that Jesus was not just a human being like them but He was God, the Yahweh (Breath of Life) so He would not be among the dead. The question is not only addressed to the women, but also to us. Why are we looking for life in people, places, and things which are dead and empty? Why are we looking for fulfillment in places, people and things which can never satisfy our restless heart?

Of course, at one level, the women were not seeking life; they came to anoint the dead body. But at a deeper level, they were seeking, just as we are all seeking, something that truly satisfies our longing. The angels knowing their inner desire ask them why they are looking for him among the dead. Like these women we too long for something which can truly make us content and at peace. But we look for them in all sorts of people, places and things except in God. We do not recognize that contentment and fullness of peace and joy lie beyond material things, places and human beings. Even a very close and intimate relationship cannot meet our inner restlessness or longing.

Saint Augustine said, "Lord, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in thee." We need to look in the right place, turn from our sin and unbelief, and put our faith in Christ. As we do we will meet Him, the Living One, the Giver of life, peace and joy. God alone can fulfill the deepest longing of our soul.

(P) Amen.

God Bless You!

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