As I sat in my living room yesterday, looking out at new leaves on the lilac tree through the front window, sunshine bathing the lawn with the temperature reaching 76°, it finally felt like Spring! How appropriate, I thought—Holy Saturday and tomorrow Easter! It all felt so RIGHT!
Everything about this time of year speaks so eloquently of resurrection, of the life force within trees and plants, within the earth and our own bodies rising to meet the sun! And, interestingly, that same air is in the church this year as symbols of a harsh, cold and restrictive leadership model are deliberately laid to rest by our new pope in favor of a warmer, open and seemingly more receptive style of governance.
Weary people find reasons to hope in even the tiniest signs of Spring! There’s an almost palpable sigh of relief as light returns and the sun begins to feel warm again. People seem to feel lighter, freer, more open and hopeful. These feelings are reflected in the celebrations of Spring, and the religious holidays of Passover and Easter. This is what we celebrate, what we take time to notice and embrace today. Resurrection is the natural order of things. When we look at life through the spiritual lens of nature we see continuing cycles of birth, death and rebirth. Death and resurrection are built into the fabric of reality as we know it.
Jesus’ life, death and resurrection reflect that mystery imbedded in the natural world, but also raises our consciousness to the “higher realm” discussed in today’s second reading. It is a realm beyond what is “right in front of us.” We can only see it when we look deeper, beneath the surface that typically captures our attention and binds us to ordinary concerns. This “higher realm” can’t be seen with everyday eyes, can’t be touched or explained. It isn’t logical or rational. It doesn’t MAKE SENSE.
When Mary Magdalene, Joanna and Mary the mother of James returned from the empty tomb and told the Eleven and the others what they had seen and heard, the story “seemed like nonsense” and everyone “refused to believe them.” But Peter heard the women say they’d gone into the tomb and Jesus’ body wasn’t there! He had to see for himself. The burial wrappings were all he found. He went away in amazement, but none of it made sense.
Jesus’ life, death and resurrection doesn’t “make sense.” The story reflects the mystery of life rising out of death in the natural world and reveals the template of our own lives: that we are born, we live, we die—but life goes on after we appear to have died. Perhaps theology could do more to assist the intuitive understanding that life rises—inevitably—out of death, that it ALWAYS does, always has!
LIFE IS! It continues in the darkness of the earth during the winter. It appears static, rigid, failed. But we KNOW the sap will rise in the tree come Spring. The life force in the tree is the same life force in Jesus is the same life force in us! The life force is God, and God, the great I AM, simply IS.
The angels at the tomb said to the women “Why do you search for the Living One among the dead?” We search for the living among the dead because grief and fear pull our focus to the ground of concrete, physical reality. We see the dead body. We haven’t experienced the empty tomb. We weren’t there with the disciples in the upper room when Jesus passed through the wall and appeared to them after the crucifixion, spoke with them, showed Thomas his wounds. No one WE know has come back and talked with us, ate with us, after they died
If we believe in Jesus, if we believe the “good news” Peter shares with Cornelius and his household in today’s first reading—then what can stop us from believing God raised Jesus from the dead? What can stop us from recognizing IN JESUS God’s clear message that LIFE is ONGOING, that it is ETERNAL? Only our physical senses—our eyes focused on the ground.
When Peter tells Cornelius’ household that “God raised Jesus in order to be SEEN,” at least by them if not by everyone, how do we hear those words? Why would it be important for Jesus to be SEEN if not to highlight his message of love, service, humility and liberation from oppression, from DEATH itself? Why would Jesus appear to the disciples if not to affirm his ongoing presence with and among them, creating witnesses to the cross as gateway to an even broader, resurrected life that THEY SHARE? What they are witnessing is who and what THEY themselves ARE, where life is taking THEM, what they will also experience when their physical life ENDS.
Looking with the eyes of faith means looking through the lens of the heart toward the Christ in whom we believe. We look and listen for the perspective of Spirit, which is open and alert, allowing for intuitive understanding beyond the reach of logical explanation. God raised Jesus from the dead. God raised Jesus to a higher dimension of existence, one that’s invisible to the unaided, naked eye. Those to whom Jesus appeared were given eyes to see that which other, unassisted eyes could not see. This higher dimension is our common human destiny.
Easter draws our focus to that higher realm. Jesus’ physical body disappeared from the tomb as our own physical body will one day disintegrate and disappear. Our glorious, ethereal body will remain, summoned from death by the same God who raised Jesus from the tomb. Life goes on. We are invited to leave the cross behind and take on the viewpoint of Jesus, following where God leads, doing our best to love, to serve, to live our faith that death is an illusion. We are asked to remain hopeful when fear and grief overwhelm us and cloud our hearts and our vision. Even then we are gently urged to return our focus to the silent, hidden vibrations of LIFE within life.
Easter focuses our attention on the evidence of resurrection all around us. It asks: Do you believe in LIFE or not? Do you search for God among the living, or look for the living among the dead? Which direction brings peace? Which offers hope? Which draws your eyes toward concrete reality and which opens your heart to Mystery? Be alert. Follow the subtle movement of Spirit.
The earth, the Church, our hearts awaken today. It is a day made for renewing hope and reinvigorating our faith in God’s ongoing, devoted, loving presence in the world. It is a day made for celebration. Let all the earth, and all of us, take time to relish the Mystery we celebrate. Let us be grateful and REJOICE!
Rev. Toni Tortorilla, Sophia Christi Catholic Community
March 31, 2013, Easter Sunday
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