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Homily for Resurrection Sunday
(Apr 8, 2007)

Story: Little Angelita was very fascinated by what she saw outside her window.  A cute little caterpillar had crawled up a branch and there it had spun a nest around itself. Her mother told her that it was called a cocoon. Angelita had watched that cocoon every day, for some sign of movement, but nothing ever seemed to happen. It just stayed the same. One day Angelita came downstairs very troubled and crying. What’s wrong honey? Her mother asked. Mommy, somebody ruined the cocoon. It’s broken ! and it’s empty!. There’s nothing in it. I don’t know where the caterpillar went.  Her mother dried her tears and explained this was good news, not bad news. What do you think her mother said to Angelita?
    While Angelita would have been happy to find her caterpillar alive, how sad and disappointing it would be, if all that came forth was a caterpillar, instead of a butterfly?  

When Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb and found it as Mary Magdelene had said – empty.  Peter remained confused and did not know what to think of the empty tomb with the folded cloths. What had happened to Jesus body?  

Not a physical body: When Jesus was raised from the dead by God his Father, Jesus it was not to continue his life in his physical body, but to enter into a new life in a spiritual body. He was changed so dramatically that when Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene and the disciples on the way to Emmaus, they did not recognize him.   Resurrection is not resuscitation of a physical body, as Jesus did with Lazarus.

Not more of the same: It was as if Jesus were a new person, when he came out of the tomb. He did not come into this world only to bring us more of the same – though some people would be satisfied with a savior who came with a medical potion or genetic fix that would allow us to live another hundred years on earth.  No, Jesus did not come just to bring us more of the same. Jesus came to bring us new life. Jesus came to bring us life that lasts forever; and it starts right now.

Baptism: Just as Jesus was a glorified person when he came out of the tomb, so when you come up out of the waters of Baptism, you are to become a New Person in Christ.
   When Jesus rose from the dead he was more radiant and alive than he had ever been.
What happened to the disciples when Jesus rose from the dead is that they were transformed
They ceased being despairing disciples, and became daring missionaries; instead of doubting, they became believers; hoping again after giving up; and loving more deeply than they ever had before. The power of the Risen Lord began to work miracles in their lives. Just as the disciples were changed, we are meant to be changed. To be filled with new life through baptism and our faith in the Risen Jesus Christ.

Analogy: Another way to say this is that the Resurrection launches Jesus and us into new life. We could compare the death of Jesus to the launching pad. Those without faith will only get as far as Jesus’ death on the cross. They will be impressed, but they will never blast off. They have everything thing they need for salvation, but the launch never takes place, because they lack faith.
    The launching pad of Jesus’ death makes salvation possible for everyone, but it is our faith  in the Risen Christ that launches us toward Heaven. Those without faith will be fated to wander around the launching pad and never really go anywhere. What Jesus did makes the journey possible, but we have to have the faith to blast off into the unknown new world to which God calls us.

Concl: Are you going to wander the launching pad or are you going to go with Jesus?
Do you long merely to extend your stay on earth, or will you choose to enter into the new Life
         which lasts forever?