Easter Week Message: With Jesus as He Lays in the Tomb
Jesus has died! There is an unforgettable display of His death in the synoptics:
Luke tells us, “It was about noon and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon because of an eclipse of the sun. Then the veil of the temple was torn down the middle.” (Luke 23: 44-45)
Mark tells us, “At noon darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon … Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed His last. The veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom.” (Mark 15:33, 37-38)
Matthew tells us, “From noon onward, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And about three o’clock, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ which means, ‘My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?’ … And behold the veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked, rocks were split, tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised. And coming forth from their tombs after His resurrection, they entered the holy city and appeared to many.” (Matthew 27:45-46, 51-52)
And we are left with an empty hole in our hearts. We have experienced this same feeling at the death of a loved one: First comes just an emptiness. Then we have a desire to perhaps thank God because the suffering has ended ... or even shout in anger at this death. Then we await the completion of the funeral arrangements, with the calling hours, if any, and then tend to the cemetery and burial. There is a void. There is a numbness. There is quiet. Today, so many different experiences have fallen upon the victims of the coronavirus pandemic: Spouses and loved ones have been blocked from entering the hospital; even the clergy are not allowed to administer Last Rites. This adds to the feeling of loss and brings about disappointment and often outright anger. Suffering has ended for the deceased. We are left with questions. No final answer comes because, in the end, there is none. Suffering … like God … remains a mystery.
This is what the Apostles experienced. Most had vanished. How far and to where, we do not know. Mary stayed. We knew she would. Jesus was buried immediately. Even today, the Jewish funeral consists of a burial known as an interment. Cremations are forbidden. They do this so that the body can decompose naturally. Embalming is also forbidden. The burial is to take place as soon after death as possible. Our customs are longer, lasting perhaps three to six days. Waiting is never easy; suffering can’t be explained; death comes to all and never at the “right time.” All we know is that all will die.
An important reflection remains for each of us and all humanity: we are born to live. Life is precious and life is important. All lives have an impact on others for better or for worse. We have experienced people who have shown us this. We pray in gratitude and we pray for hope for those whose lives have been empty. As each one of us is born to live, Jesus was born to die. He gave His life as a ransom to open up our way to heaven to be with the Lord forever. Jesus clarified the great mystery of Heaven: Death. This is an opportunity for us to evaluate where we’ve been … where we're going. Am I ready to be forever with the Lord? Where do I need to reestablish my priorities to live a life worthy of heaven? Each death reminds us that we have to get busy with our own needs so we can face the gift of our life with God and our promised place with Him in heaven. We experience an emptiness at death. There is loneliness and sadness. It is a sad and desolate day. We have to recognize our importance as we continue to live. How am I doing?
Cardinal Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan was a priest from Viet Nam who died of cancer in 2002 at age 74. He was one of the most inspirational voices of the 20th century, a true modern-day hero. During the time of unrest in Viet Nam, he was arrested for his faith and spent 13 years in prison, nine of which he spent in solitary confinement. His cause for canonization has already begun. His story is astonishing. He wrote a gospel from prison that he called The Road of Hope, for during those years of confinement he came to know the hope and experience the joy that Christ intended for all of His disciples to share. He tells us this road has three stages:
Luke tells us, “It was about noon and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon because of an eclipse of the sun. Then the veil of the temple was torn down the middle.” (Luke 23: 44-45)
Mark tells us, “At noon darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon … Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed His last. The veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom.” (Mark 15:33, 37-38)
Matthew tells us, “From noon onward, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And about three o’clock, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ which means, ‘My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?’ … And behold the veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked, rocks were split, tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised. And coming forth from their tombs after His resurrection, they entered the holy city and appeared to many.” (Matthew 27:45-46, 51-52)
And we are left with an empty hole in our hearts. We have experienced this same feeling at the death of a loved one: First comes just an emptiness. Then we have a desire to perhaps thank God because the suffering has ended ... or even shout in anger at this death. Then we await the completion of the funeral arrangements, with the calling hours, if any, and then tend to the cemetery and burial. There is a void. There is a numbness. There is quiet. Today, so many different experiences have fallen upon the victims of the coronavirus pandemic: Spouses and loved ones have been blocked from entering the hospital; even the clergy are not allowed to administer Last Rites. This adds to the feeling of loss and brings about disappointment and often outright anger. Suffering has ended for the deceased. We are left with questions. No final answer comes because, in the end, there is none. Suffering … like God … remains a mystery.
This is what the Apostles experienced. Most had vanished. How far and to where, we do not know. Mary stayed. We knew she would. Jesus was buried immediately. Even today, the Jewish funeral consists of a burial known as an interment. Cremations are forbidden. They do this so that the body can decompose naturally. Embalming is also forbidden. The burial is to take place as soon after death as possible. Our customs are longer, lasting perhaps three to six days. Waiting is never easy; suffering can’t be explained; death comes to all and never at the “right time.” All we know is that all will die.
An important reflection remains for each of us and all humanity: we are born to live. Life is precious and life is important. All lives have an impact on others for better or for worse. We have experienced people who have shown us this. We pray in gratitude and we pray for hope for those whose lives have been empty. As each one of us is born to live, Jesus was born to die. He gave His life as a ransom to open up our way to heaven to be with the Lord forever. Jesus clarified the great mystery of Heaven: Death. This is an opportunity for us to evaluate where we’ve been … where we're going. Am I ready to be forever with the Lord? Where do I need to reestablish my priorities to live a life worthy of heaven? Each death reminds us that we have to get busy with our own needs so we can face the gift of our life with God and our promised place with Him in heaven. We experience an emptiness at death. There is loneliness and sadness. It is a sad and desolate day. We have to recognize our importance as we continue to live. How am I doing?
Cardinal Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan was a priest from Viet Nam who died of cancer in 2002 at age 74. He was one of the most inspirational voices of the 20th century, a true modern-day hero. During the time of unrest in Viet Nam, he was arrested for his faith and spent 13 years in prison, nine of which he spent in solitary confinement. His cause for canonization has already begun. His story is astonishing. He wrote a gospel from prison that he called The Road of Hope, for during those years of confinement he came to know the hope and experience the joy that Christ intended for all of His disciples to share. He tells us this road has three stages:
- Departure: Renounce yourself. “If you have given up everything, but still have not denied yourself, you have actually not given up anything at all. Unless you give up yourself, you will, slowly perhaps, but surely, gather to yourself once again those very things which you gave up in the first place.”
- Duty: Take up your cross daily. “Some people do not shoulder the cross because they imagine it to be too heavy. Still other people are eager to shoulder everyone else’s cross but refuse to carry their own and even seek to foist it on another person’s shoulder.”
- Perseverance: Follow Me. “You tremble with fear. You have stumbled and fallen. You have met with difficulties, misunderstandings, criticism, disgrace, perhaps even a sentence of death. You despair, but why do you forget the gospel? Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered everything. But if you continue to follow Him, you too will have your Easter Triumph.”
- What is hope? Does belief in our own resurrection give us hope? Why or why not? Without hope in eternity, what would be the meaning of life?
- What is the connection between Jesus’ resurrection and hope and trust in God? How do we renew our hope and trust in God amid the pressures and tensions of this coronavirus pandemic? How can we support others as they strive to renew their hope and trust in God and in eternity?
- Do we sometimes lose sight of the fact that we are invited to live forever with God after our death? If so, how are we brought back to hope in the promise of eternal life?
- Jesus did not deserve to die on the cross, and yet He did. What does that say to us about how much God loves us?
- What people in your life have shown a good example of how to live a life that is rooted in the gospels?
- So we plan a way to show our willingness share in Jesus’ Death and Resurrection. Let us keep our eyes open this week for people who will be Jesus for us by their goodness and faith.
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