Easter Reflections:
Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday
Summary of Fr. Gerry Creedon's homily April 1-3, 2010
Holy Thursday
"This cup is the new covenant in my blood." 1 Cor 11:23-26
Her sister was ill and needed a blood transfusion. Their blood type matched. She agreed to donate her blood. As the day drew near to give blood, her father noticed that his daughter was hesitant. "If you do not wish to give blood, you do not have to," he suggested. "Oh no," she replied, "I want to. I only wonder how quickly I will die." He relieved her anxiety but was left with a new appreciation of sororal love.
A similar event occurred in the parish last week. A young Guatemalan mother of 28 years was pregnant with her second child. Six months into the pregnancy she was diagnosed with a cancer. The doctor suggested that she would have better chance of beating the cancer if she terminated the pregnancy and began treatment immediately. She refused that option, and delivered a healthy boy.
She then began treatment. It was not successful. At her funeral the little boy played and prayed a little in the front pew. Families are all called to some form of sacrificial giving. Sisters and parents such as these have a special insight into the mystery of Holy Week. Jesus interpreted his death as bread, broken and given for us. He died that we might live.
Good Friday
"He bowed his head and handed over the spirit." Jn 19:30
In the psalm we pray, "Into your hands I commend my spirit." However, in the Gospel of John the phrase describing Jesus' death is more ambiguous. The spirit can also be translated as breath. One is reminded of Jesus where the breath of God is what gives life to creation. Does John mean that in his death Jesus is surrendering his life's breath to the origin and source of his life? It surely means that. It may also mean more simply that he is handing over his spirit to those around him at the cross, the three Mary’s and the followers like John who did not run away. Perhaps it means both.
When we think of the church we often picture an institution with doctrines and all too human shepherds. Yet the primary meaning of church is the people who have received the spirit. He handed over his breath to the community of disciples. Tonight when we kiss the cross and when we partake of the bread of life we are saying yes to the Spirit of Jesus.
That Spirit has three main functions. It is the spirit of truth. The truth will set you free. The Spirit will lead his church to all truth. Let us be truth tellers.
The Spirit unifies. If I be lifted up (on the cross and in resurrection) I will draw all people to myself. Jesus wept over Jerusalem, as divided then as it is now. "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, I would have gathered you as a hen would her chickens under her wing and you would not." Before he was carried off he prayed that all might be one, that the world might believe that the Father sent him.
The Spirit heals. The oil of the spirit heals our bodies and our divided communities. May we pray that our polarized nation come together in health and healing. Tonight may we breathe in deeply the breath of Jesus; his unifying, true and healing spirit.
Holy Saturday
"We too might live in newness of life." Romans 6:4
The mystery of Christ's death and resurrection are proclaimed in symbols. The fire burns away the snow- mounds of winter and warms us in God's love. From it the Easter candle is lit to illumine all with the truth of the Spirit. There is no room for deceit in God's house. The word tonight tells the stories of creation, of Abraham, Moses and of Jesus. The oil of chrism creates a priestly people through the signing of Confirmation. The water recalls our liberation from the Pharaoh and brings us new life. Finally the bread proclaims that from his death comes our life.
Eleven adults come to us in this Vigil searching for the Risen life of Jesus. They will find that life in fire, light, word, water, oil and bread. Yet the major sign of his risen presence is us. It is an amazing assertion that you will find the Risen Lord in the Holy Roman Catholic and Apostolic Church. We know that as well as a holy church we are also a sinful church. We hold a treasure not made of gold, in earthen vessels wealth untold. St. Paul may describe the church as a bride without spot or wrinkle, but never as now, we recognize the weakness of our church, its spots and warts and wrinkles. And still we assert that you will find the Risen Lord among the people of St. Charles, not just its priests or choirs but in the gathered people.
I for one find signs of his presence every time I come to celebrate here. He is with us not only in our liturgy but in countless outreaches of this spirit filled community. Come, be with us and strengthen our witness. For Christ is found in word and sign but especially in the primordial sacrament of his risen people.
