Homily for Easter Vigil 2018: "Who will roll away the stone for us from the tomb?"

Bishop Paul’s homily for Easter Vigil 2018 (Mark 16:1-7)

The women going early in the morning to the tomb had a very serious concern: “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” It was not only the question of the stone which locked the tomb, it was even more the death of Jesus on the cross that weighed on them like an irremovable burden. Their question could well have sound like this: “Who will roll away the stone from the tomb of our hearts where hope has died?”

The women on the way to the tomb are bothered with a question which pains everyone who has to struggle with situations of death. We know by experience, that in such moments we are not able to “roll away the stone”. We are simply not in the position to do it: neither in our own lives, nor in the lives of the others and in the dramatic events of this world, where death and crime are a daily experience. What we can do, is what the women did. Although they knew that they were not able to remove the stone, they set off again to the tomb close to Golgotha. At least a spark of hope must have been in their heart, otherwise it would have been useless to go there.

And what a surprise! Arriving at the tomb “they could see that the stone – which was very big – had already been rolled back.” If they had not gone to the tomb “hoping against hope” (Rom 4:18) they would not have had the Easter experience. Not human force, but divine intervention had opened the gate of the tomb. However, the women still needed – like us – heavenly instruction because they could not understand straight away. It was “a young man in a white robe … who said to them, ‘You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified: he has risen, he is not here’.”

Since that first Easter morning we have the right to believe, that there is no stone, which cannot be removed by God, even those heavy burdens weighing on our hearts. Remember the word we heard from the prophet Ezekiel: “I shall remove the heart of stone from your bodies and give you a heart of flesh instead. I shall put my spirit in you” (Ezekiel 36).

In a few moments I shall ask the candidates for baptism, and all of you who are already baptized and confirmed: “Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, died, and was buried, rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father?” We are able to answer with a strong “I do” only, if the “heart of stone” has been removed and the spirit of God is working in us. Not human work is making it, but God’s grace.

 “Who will roll away the stumbling blocks in our lives?” Remember Jesus who as was joining incognito the two desperate disciples on the way to Emmaus? “Hoping against hope” they listened to him, let their heart become burning and recognized him at the breaking of the bread. The paralysis was overcome, suddenly they were full of energy, ran back to Jerusalem and were able to tell their friends their experience. The stone had been rolled away from their heart by the Lord.

Dear friends, we too do not need to have the solution of all the problems immediately. However, like the women, we should have the courage to approach the tombs in our lives “hoping against hope” and discover that it still happens that the stones are rolled away. After Easter the way continues. There is a clear instruction the women have to give to the disciples: “He is going before you to Galilee, there you will see him.” This word is addressed to us also: “He is going before you … you will see him.” Leave the tomb! Christ goes ahead and will show you that he is alive! Look around you and see Christ alive in your brothers and sisters! Share their faith and profess without any doubt and shame: “Christ has risen from the dead! Alleluia!”