DEATH COULD NOT HOLD HIM

Fr. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara CSsR

Easter Vigil Homily

Holy Names of Jesus & Mary Catholic Church

Memphis, Tennessee, USA

April 11, 2009

When the Redeemer of man died, when the hope of humanity died, when the one who went about doing good, healing all those who were sick, when the righteous One died, when the Prince of peace died, when the Lion of the tribe Judah died, when our excellent Master died, when the Son of God died, when Jesus who is, who was, and who is to come died, foolish people foolishly think that God is dead. But if God died, how come we are still alive? The death of God would be not just the death of man, but would be the extinction of all human beings and all other created things. Foolish people wrongly and foolishly interpreted the death of the Redeemer of man as the death of God.
Brethren the cross is not the end of everything. If God had died, then there will be no more life on earth or anywhere. The paradox here is that the Son of God only conquered death by his death. By dying, Jesus conquered death, our death. By rising, Jesus restored our life. The cross of Jesus is indeed foolishness to atheist and agnostics. The cross for unbelievers is the utmost show of foolishness; a killed reckless and irrational show of timidity. For a fool, the cross is a profound show of passivity. To an unbeliever, the cross is a manifestation of weakness and dullness of Jesus. To unbelievers and doubters, the cross signifies the end of a failure; the end of a disaster, the end of a woeful end. For them, the cross indicates the colossal and the maximal crash of a deceiver called Jesus Christ. This is why one of the thieves crucified with Jesus said to him, “save yourself and us”. Others mocked him saying, “He saved others, let him save himself and come down from the cross so that we will believe in him.”
The ungrateful murderers of Jesus thought that they have killed him. But death could not hold him! The forces of evil could not stop him from rising. Satan and his malevolent followers could not hold him down in the grave. Jesus rose in glory. The cross is not a depiction of weakness. It is indeed very powerful! The cross is a powerful tool. From the cross was born the new life of Saul; from the cross was born the conversion of erudite St. Augustine of Hippo; from the cross was born the joyful poverty of St. Francis of Assisi; from the cross was born the radiant goodness of Vincent de Paul; from the cross was born the great compassion of St. Alfonsus Ligouri; from the cross was born the heroism of Maximilian Kolbe; from the cross was born the amazing charity of Mother Teresa of Calcutta; from the cross was born the courage of John Paul II; from the cross was born the bravery of Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador; a man who rejected the comfort and protection of the country’s evil government and pitched his tent with the poor and abandoned- the special friends of Jesus. From the cross was born the courage and objectivity of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who challenged the nation to live out the true meaning of its creed, that all men and women are equal; from the cross was born the revolution of love; from the cross was born the profound manifestation of the love of Scholastica, a young girl from Nigeria who preferred death to blasphemy against God. So the cross is not the death of God, but the birth of his love in our world. It is cross that brought every one of us here.
The cross leads to victory and triumph in Christ. The cross points to Easter. Easter is the celebration of the celebration of Jesus Christ over death. It is a celebration of victory and triumph of Jesus. It is also our celebration and our own victory and triumph. Because he lives, we can face tomorrow. In Easter we celebrate and rejoice over our own new life. We are victorious! We are special people called to be free, and we have the staff in our hand. The earth and its riches belong to our God, so let’s go and reclaim our land. Let us claim the victory of Christ. His victory is our victory. Death was not powerful enough to keep him down in the grave. He rose! He rose!! He rose!!! Everybody shout, He Rose! He Rose! He Rose!
Easter tells us there is an end to pain and suffering. When walking and trekking on the rough road to Golgotha, Easter reminds us there is a corresponding celebration of triumph. When walking under the shadow of death, Easter comes to reassure us that “this too shall pass away.” When the accuser of the Brethren is roaring to kill and maim, be calm because victory is just round the corner. When the forces of hatred gang up against you, Easter tell you “Death could not hold him bound.” When the forces of envy and jealousy unite to frustrate and foil your progress, Easter tells you to be strong because massive and oversize victory awaits you. Death could not hold the Master of the universe in the grave. He conquered death and resurrected unto glory. There is indeed an end to suffering and discomfort.
When Jesus was dragging his already battered body to Golgotha, it seemed it is finished for him. On his way to Golgotha, remember, he fell thrice. Before them, he was severely scourged at the pillar, he was crown with a painful thorn, and he was brutally beaten and smashed by the soldiers. During this time, it seemed it is finished for Jesus. And when he finally cried, “It is finished”, his killers rejoiced and thought he has been finished. They thought they have finished him. But our Lord was not really finished. He came back triumphantly. When he said, “It is finished”, he meant our salvation and freedom is accomplished. In the silence of history, the Lord cried “It is finished”. The Lord is saying, “I have given you everything. I have told you everything. I brought you the most beautiful message of all: God is love! God loves you! There is nothing left behind. Jesus is saying to us “I have told you everything you need to know to gain salvation. I have given you everything you ought to have for your redemption. The complete message of salvation has been preached completely. When Jesus cried with a loud voice “It is finished”, he meant there is nothing left, there is nothing I have not done or said for you to achieve salvation. I have emptied myself completely for you. My love has been given out to you unreservedly; my entire life has been poured out completely for your liberty. Nothing remains! “It is finished” means the enmity between you and God is over. The sin that separates us from God is erased. It means the barrier is finally destroyed. It is finished means Satan’s power and victory over us is finished. He can no longer win the battle. Jesus said, I have finished the evil one! Jesus was not finished, rather he finished his enemies and finished our enemies.
“It is finished” therefore does not mean our Savior’s life is finished; rather his life and love have been given out completely without reservation. Life was won! But fools misunderstood expiration for extinction. They thought the Excellent One is finished forever. But our Lord is alive; He lives! Death could not hold him in the darkness of the grave. He rose to light and glory for our good. He has offered us everything- love, freedom, peace, joy, salvation, courage, life and everything. I mean everything! Nothing was left behind undone. Salvation has been accomplished. This therefore calls for a great celebration- a celebration of love, love at its pick, love at its zenith, love at its height, love at its summit, and love at its apogee.
The Redeemer of humanity crucified on Good Friday is risen. He is risen! He has risen to reign forever. He has risen in our life. He has risen to die no more.
Tonight, like we do at every Easter Vigil, we concluded the first part of our vigil with the chanting of the Exsultet- the Church’s Easter proclamation. This Easter chant has been appropriately described as “one of the finest jewels in the Church’s treasury” The first three stanzas of the Exsultet started with “Rejoice”. So tonight, we rejoice because “Christ has ransomed us with his blood, and paid for us the price of Adam’s sin to our eternal Father. We rejoice because this is the night when Christians everywhere, washed clean of sin and freed from all defilements, are restored to grace and grow together in holiness. We rejoice because this is the night when Jesus Christ broke the chains of death and rose triumphant from the grave.
Tonight, I say to you brothers and sisters rejoice. Rejoice! Rejoice!! Rejoice!!! We are free! We are redeemed! We have been reconciled with God! We are have been made new! When Jesus raised Lazarus from death, he said to those who witnessed the great miracle, “untie him and let him go”. By his death, Jesus speaks to Satan, untie my people and let them go. By his death, Jesus makes a bold statement, “My people, you are free”. Go in peace!