Please read this passage before reading the homily.
My sisters and brothers,
This is the first day of the week. It is a day of life. It harkens back to another first day, the mythical and mysterious first day of creation. This is the day of re-creation.
There is a tomb, a black hole, with a stone rolled back, revealing emptiness. Out of that emptiness, however, has sprung life, abundant life, life without end.
Mary of Magdala has come. Magdala is a Hebrew word for tower, and she will tower above the male disciples in her faith. She summoned Peter and the “other disciple whom Jesus loved”.
They go to the tomb and see everything in order except for the body of Jesus which has disappeared. They did not yet understand that Jesus had to rise from the dead.
So, this is the first day of the week. It is the day of new creation. The risen Lord wants to open the black holes in our lives so that life can spring forth upon us that through us to others.
Do we understand what Jesus’ rising from the dead means for us? Will we cower in fear as some of the disciples did or will we tower over doubt and hesitation as Mary of Magdala did in spreading news of the resurrection?
What is the myth and mystery of Easter? Myth is the deepest truth expressed poetically. Mystery is the deepest truth expressed ritually, where outward sign reveals inward truth. The tomb, the missing stone, the black hole bursting with life, the woman who towers over the rest, the young and old who run to the tomb, our presence to this celebration, all these, express the truthfulness of Easter and resurrection.