Several years ago, on one of my family vacations, we ventured out west and had the opportunity to visit the area known as the four corners. In one spot, if you are very flexible, you can literally touch the states of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah. Simply a fixed spot on a map, this location is determined by a boundary; a border.
We all are familiar with boundaries; some physical; some not so physical. My family, for instance, knows the boundary of the work space in the home where I read and write and prepare my homilies. And I know the boundary I must never cross when my wife comes home from a particularly tough day at work; especially these days as she works in a C.P.A. office.
As people of faith, are we aware of the boundaries that prevent us from fully experiencing the love of the Risen Christ? Are we aware of the boundaries we encounter tonight that help us to truly be an Easter people?
The first boundary tonight was the boundary of the darkness. That boundary was crossed with the experience of the light. Tonight, the light came to us from the new fire which first lit the Easter candle from which all other candles in the church were lit. And then as we heard the rich Word of God proclaimed to us; more light.
The second boundary tonight was the experience of the many readings from Holy Scripture. Yes, tonight, these readings help us ponder and pray with the whole story of creation, the prefigurement of Christ in Abraham and his only son Isaac, and the beautiful story of Moses leading the Israelites across the Red Sea; the prefigurement of Baptism which we will celebrate tonight. These readings remind us of our salvation history and challenge us to extend our boundaries in our own faith journey.
A third boundary tonight is found in our beautiful Gospel passage from St. Luke. This Scripture, carefully selected for tonight’s Easter vigil, gives us St. Luke’s rendering of the first Easter morning. Unlike so many Gospel readings throughout the year, tonight our first mentioned characters are women; the women who despite the hostility just shown to the crucified Jesus make haste to go the tomb. The boundary they encountered they did not understand. These women found a stone rolled away from the tomb and Jesus not there. And they become the first to hear the words that break through all boundaries: “He is not here, but he has been raised.”
Here, we can ponder and pray with the glorious announcement that not even death is a boundary God can’t conquer.
The Gospel names the women, Mary Magdalene, Joanna and Mary the mother of James. They rush off to the apostles and we hear that it is Peter who, forgoing his own boundaries, rushes to the tomb. And as he gazed upon the empty tomb; he knew and he went home amazed!
I mentioned Baptism. Yes, in a few minutes we will experience a Baptism and Rite of Acceptance; tonight, 5 new Catholics join our family. For them, they have expanded and stretched their boundaries, studying the faith and making a decision to enter into the fullness of truth. For all of us gathered here tonight, we share their joy and can use this evening to explore our own boundaries of faith.
When we leave here tonight, rejoicing with the Alleluia chorus and the light of truth and the Easter joy, what will we do? Which boundary do we wish to extend, to conquer, and to overcome? Perhaps we are “cradle” Catholics who sometimes take our faith for granted. Perhaps we can lapse into that cafeteria style of Catholicism, where we pick and choose those tenets of the faith we will or will not follow. Think about the boundaries we have been presented with tonight and how the Easter Resurrection encourages us that with God, there is no boundary that holds us back; no boundary we can’t cross with the Resurrected Jesus at our side. And for us long time Catholics, can we extend our hands to our new family members and welcome them to the Church as Christ welcomes us with His love?
New and old Catholics alike tonight, extend the boundaries that hold us back. Extend the boundary of this Easter celebration. Realize that Easter is not contained to this evening. No, Easter Day is an octave. For the next 8 days we celebrate Easter. Attend Mass or pray the prayers of the day this week in an effort to rejoice at the boundaries you are pushing forward. We are also now in our second day of the great novena to Divine Mercy. Participate in this devotion as part of your Easter joy.
And remember the light; the light that began outside of Church and cascaded all the way through our gathering tonight. This is the light of Christ, the light of truth and the light that guides our way on the journeys to and beyond all the boundaries we will encounter in this life. In the week ahead, look to the light!
To stand in one place and be in four states required the crossing of four boundaries and lot’s of flexibility. To be in a state of grace that crosses the boundary of this life and the promise of everlasting life requires our total gift of self to He who is risen; for He is truly risen!
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