On behalf of Deacon Tony, the Parish Staff and myself, I would like to extend to everyone a very Blessed Easter. I wonder what it was like that 1st Easter morning? What made it different from other mornings? As I was thinking about the different mornings I experienced, I thought about the song ‘Morning has broken.’ The next stanza is ‘like the first morning.’ That 1st morning the song is referring to is the 1st day of creation. I’d like to think the morning that was like the 1st morning - is the morning of the resurrection. We are told in John’s Gospel that the stone had already been removed when Mary Magdala arrived at the tomb in the early morning hours and that it was still dark - but I’d like to think - it was prior to her arrival that ‘morning - truly had broken’ - in the resurrection. Just imagine a powerful light breaking through the darkness, a light protruding everywhere lighting up the sky before the sun even breaks through. Think of the soldiers guarding the tomb - becoming almost blinded by this light - then falling to the ground almost unconscious from the impact of this phenomenon, this extraordinary burst of light and when awakened - having no idea where his body is. It is after Jesus walks out of this burst of light that darkness returns. Only then does Mary arrive looking for Jesus but sees nothing but an empty tomb.
Mary then runs to Peter - who she believes can help her find his body. Upon arriving at the house, she finds Peter with John and tells them someone had taken the Lord’s body and she doesn’t know where they put him. Mary at this time has no hope of him being alive. She had witnessed his death and doesn’t know about the resurrection, so she is grieving - only to learn later in the day he’s alive. I don’t know how anyone could explain the joy she felt - after having believed for three days his life ended tragically. She had no hope, but later finds hope – and becomes filled with joy
I was thinking about how I could get people to understand what it must be like to find joy - after experiencing a tragedy, - one that appears to have no good outcome - and yet in the end - the unbelievable happens and tears that were once shed during a time of hopelessness now become tears of joy. It was then that I realized there was a situation - that happened recently that conveys that same kind of joy Mary experienced - after having gone through three days of grieving For those of you who may not be aware, a religious order of sisters, known as the Missionaries of the Word, reside in Baileys Harbor. They were founded by Bishop Ricken in 2014. One of their ministries is serving the youth. I serve as their chaplain.
About three weeks ago I got a phone call from their Superior telling me the five year old nephew of one of the sisters was run over by a tractor. I was told that when his dad first pulled him from the wreckage he wasn’t breathing and even though he immediately called 911 - he found himself wondering if it even paid to call them. I learned later that his dad thought to himself that there was only one chance in a million his son would live and only one chance in a billion his son - would be normal. He was put on a helicopter known as the flight for life. I later learned that his injuries were so bad that his family was told they should say their goodbyes before the helicopter even took off. It was a Tuesday when I got the news and I went right over to the sister’s convent and offered mass for him. The sister’s nephew’s name is John Paul so needless to say, we called upon the intercession of - St John Paul II.
The Superior of the Order, Mother Mary Catherine and Sister Lucia who is the little boy’s Aunt drove to Superior to be with his family. Sr Lucia said that when she walked into the hospital room, she would never had known it was her nephew had they not told her as his head was swollen and one of his eyes was completely shut. They later learned he had two broken collar bones, a lacerated liver and broken fingers on his right hand but to their amazement there was no brain damage and no injury to his spinal cord. He was unconscious for several days and I was told how his mother - had sobbed in the arms of Mother superior - as they waited - to see any improvement
He slowly regained consciousness and started to show improvement, but the doctors were still concerned about his liver and we were told to keep praying as it was still touch and go as his liver wasn’t responding as they had hoped it would being such a vital organ - but again things started to turn around and he started to improve. Then to the doctors amazement - He started to make a fast recovery. Last week they sent him home with no major injuries and - are expecting him to make a full recovery i saw a photo of him with his sister and brother (as is shown at the beginning of the email) and would have never known he was in bad accident. What was three days of agony, became a time of joy and gratitude. This was the joy Mary felt when she learned of Jesus’ resurrection - I personally see this as nothing short of a miracle.
I don’t think any of us can imagine the joy that we will feel the day of our resurrection when we are taken away from all the sadness we experience in this world - only to know the love and mercy of Jesus . Until then - like Peter and John - we need to run to the empty tomb, living in the hope of the resurrection - knowing that because of his death and resurrection that one day we too - will be united with Jesus- in heaven
When Peter and John were running to the tomb, they were running with in hope that Jesus actually did rise. John arrives at the tomb first and even though he looks in and sees the burial cloths he doesn’t go in - but waits for Peter. When Peter arrives, he goes in and sees the burial cloths and the cloth that covered his head - rolled up and put in a separate place, yet he appears to be wondering what this means but when the other disciple enters and sees - we are told that - he believes - perhaps because he already knew in his heart that Morning had broken long before the sun reached the horizon because his faith in Jesus was so strong . Can you imagine being a part to that story?
Well guess what - we are - a part of that story because Jesus also died and rose for us Maybe we need to ask ourselves - if Easter morning has ever broken for us? Do we see the sun rise in our lives or the little miracles - we often take for granted or are we like Peter who in todays Gosple - is looking for something greater? We need to be more like john - who had no question in his heart - but only trust - in the power and mercy of Jesus. Like John you and I need to know that Jesus is always with us even during our trials.
I know the family of John Paul will know that Morning has truly broken for them this Easter Sunday just like that first morning when John Paul was born - and all the joy and happiness a family could experience - happened and by the grace of God - that joy will be remembered even more - because of the days of sorrow they experienced in a hospital only to give thanks for a life - that perhaps for a few years - they took for granted - but now - the joy of easter – is ever more present in their hearts
The joy all of us long for on easter comes from an awareness of our blessings and of God’s presence in our lives. We may not experience a miracle as John Paul’s family had but - faith in the resurrection - is the only miracle we need knowing one day if we are faithful to God and show love and mercy to those around us we will have our resurrection day - and will be able to say one day - Our morning truly has broken. Be grateful this Easter. Thank God for your family and for your blessings - but most of all – thank God for his Son- who was willing to become one of us - so that one day - we too can have – eternal life in heaven - Have a Blessed Easter.
