Homily for Easter Vigil: &#034;Who Will Roll Away The Stone For Us?&#034;

April 4, 2021

Abu Dhabi.

Gospel: Mark 16:1-7

The women, who went early in the morning to the tomb had a serious question: “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” It was not only the problem of the stone that locked the tomb. There was the even heavier stone that lay on their hearts, the death of Jesus on the cross. They were deeply mourning and could well have asked: “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 that pains everyone who has to struggle with situations of death. After one year of pandemic we know by experience, that 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 others. We feel equally powerless when we consider the tragedies in this world, where death and crime are a daily experience. We should do, 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 have missed the Easter experience. Not human force, but divine intervention had opened the gate of the tomb. The women still needed 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, that cannot be removed by God. It is true even for the heavy burdens weighing on our hearts. Remember the word of 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 invite you to renew your baptismal vows and ask you: “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?” You will answer with “I do”. However, you can do it properly only, if the “heart of stone” is removed and the spirit of God takes its place. It is not human work, but divine action. Or in the words of Saint Paul: “No one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except by the Holy Spirit” (1 Co 12:3).

“Who will roll away the stumbling blocks in our lives?” Remember Jesus who joined incognito the two disciples in despair 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. It still happens in our lives if we let Jesus walk with us.

Dear friends, we do not have the strength to remove all the stumbling blocks put on our way. However, like the women, we should not hesitate to approach the tombs in our lives “hoping against hope”. It still happens that the stones are rolled away. Easter gives us the hope that we can go forward. The instruction the women have to give to the disciples is clear: “He is going before you to Galilee, there you will see him.” This is true for our own life: “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 it without any doubt and shame: “Christ has risen from the dead! Alleluia!”