The Great Vigil of Easter Homily - April 11, 2020 - How Can This Be? - Part 3 (Conclusion)

Christ's Descent into Hades – icon explanation – Orthodox Road
The Resurrection of Christ Icon


The Great Vigil of Easter
Romans 6:3-11
Psalm 114
Matthew 28:1-10


(The Conclusion)

I.

How on earth can this be?!

The earth quakes,
 the guards of the tomb where Jesus lay fall down, scared out of their minds,
  the women on the way to the tomb look up
   and there is an ANGEL that has opened the tomb,
    and we freaking out!

We hear the angel speak comfort to us,
 "Don't be afraid!"
   then invite us to look in the tomb,
    and show us that Jesus isn't here,
     because he is risen
      just like he said!

Holy Angels in heaven,
 how can this be?!

And as the women race back to the disciples to tell them
 this amazing,
  stupendous,
   frankly unbelievable news,
    Jesus Christ our Lord actually meets them on the road,
     and with undoubtedly a huge smile on his face,
      shouts, "Greetings!"

Sweet Lord Jesus,
 how can this be?!

All we can do is fall on our face in worship!
 All we can do is just cry for joy,
  all we can do is wonder what on earth is going on!
   But Jesus, in his usual manner,
    keeps us on track on what we need to be doing,
     "Go tell my brothers that I've risen like I said,
      and they can find me in Galilee, just like normal."

Lord God in heaven,
 is this really happening?
  Someone pinch me,
   am I dreaming?!

II.

Turns out friends, it isn't a dream!

Jesus Christ Our Lord
 has indeed kept his promise!

The events that lead us up to this moment,
 as tragic as they were
  have completely taken on new meaning.

Maundy Thursday becomes an eternal day of re-membering,
 re-enjoining Jesus on that same night,
 when Jesus institutes the Blessed Sacrament of his Body and Blood,
  take on an immediate meaning,
   that we really do partake of Christ who is ever living and cannot die,
    having become the first fruits of the resurrection of the dead!

Good Friday,
 Jesus's suffering on the cross is now shot through with a cosmic importance,
  as the suffering Christ of God fulfills the prophecies concerning the redemption of the world,
   gives up his life as the Spotless Paschal Lamb,
    but also rises again by the power of God
     crushing death and harrowing hell!

His burial in the tomb and our watch on Holy Saturday,
 when the seeming absence of Jesus
  actually was when Jesus descended to the dead
   in order to bring back the souls trapped by the power of death.
    Whereas we saw Jesus as dead and resting in peace,
     Jesus was actually victoriously breaking down the doors of death
      and releasing the captive souls into the freedom found in what Jesus had done!

But, even more so,
 we arrive at the first call of the resurrection tonight at the Easter Vigil,
  and our alleluias ring out to praise Jesus Christ
   Our Living Savior and Lord,
    that has risen again and whom death no longer has any power over at all!

III.

Can you believe it?
 Can you believe your eyes?

Good Lord,
 how can this be?

Well,
 short answer is,
  we have no idea how this can be!
   I have no idea how this can be!
    The only thing I know is that God was up to something
     truly inconceivable to the human mind!

I don't know much, friends.
 But this is what I do know
  I know what my eyes have seen,
   what my ears have heard,
    what my heart has felt,
     when Jesus came into my heart and saved me from my sins
      by virtue of his Holy Passion:

His servant-hood and love for me on Maundy Thursday,
 His precious death and sacrifice on Good Friday,
  and his mighty resurrection tonight at the Great Vigil of Easter.

And the only response we really can have
 is the same as the women coming to the tomb:
  we run and tell out the joyful news,

He is risen,
 he is risen,
  Good God Almighty,
   Christ is Risen!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  

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