(Please read the Scripture passage before reading the homily.)
Jesus has passed. He has passed through the heavens. He was tested in every way that we have been tempted, but he did not sin. He has sympathy for us, so we can approach him with confidence.
Jesus has passed. Today there is a deep silence, a silence filled with awe and sorrow. Jesus has passed. Many of our relatives and friends have passed. Someday we shall pass through the heavens as Jesus did.
We celebrate the passing of Jesus today. This does not mean that Jesus has died again. It does, however, mean that in some mysterious way we are closer today to the passing of Jesus.
When Jesus passed, we likewise passed with him. We have gone into the tomb with him. We have remained in the tomb with him; and, as surely as he rose from the tomb in newness of life, we have risen with him.
This is the meaning of baptism. Just as Jesus passed for all of us, so also did Jesus rise for all of us. The silence of today is to draw us into the mystery of Jesus’ passing and of our passing in him. The silence of today is to remind us of the rebirth on the third day and our rebirth with him. The silence of today awaits the day of resurrection, the day of new live.
In the silence of today we can recall that we are alive because of the death of Jesus, that we are alive because of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.
Let us be silent in hope. Let us be still in anticipated joy. Let us celebrate the silence so we can celebrate the joy as the mystery of Jesus’ passing transforms into the mystery of the resurrection of Jesus for us.