Easter Saturday: Joyful in Faith

Fr Richard's homily for Easter Saturday. Today, he celebrated Mass at Ss Peter and Paul, Leyburn. Intention: Holy Souls

Readings: https://universalis.com/20200418/mass.htm

Homily: Joyful in Faith

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It’s been a very strange Holy Week and Easter Octave. Not being able to join in the great liturgical celebrations of the Church’s year I expect has been quite difficult. For us priests, the Easter Triduum liturgies have obviously been celebrated very simply.  

We might well describe our celebration of Easter 2020 as a bit “flat”. One or two people, outside of our parishes, even joked to me in the last few days of Lent: is Easter still happening this year?

Perhaps we can associate in some ways with the eleven apostles in today’s Gospel. Not that we don’t believe that Jesus is Risen - but that we might, like them, be currently confined to one building. We might feel despondent, uncertain about the future.

And then the Glorified Lord Himself appears in their midst. Yes, it is true. He is not dead, He has risen!

Jesus not only appears to the apostles but gives them, and us, an instruction: “Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News to all creation.” In the First Reading, we see Peter and the apostles carrying out this command. By the Resurrection of Christ and by His breathing of the Holy Spirit upon them, they’re now totally transformed. Far from cowering from the authorities, they now boldly defend Divine Law above unjust instructions from human authorities. “We cannot promise to stop proclaiming what we have seen and heard.” Nor can we!

We too have received the powerful Gift of the Holy Spirit in baptism and Confirmation. During this Eastertide, empowered with the Spirit, let’s encourage each other in faith. Let’s not forget to wish people a happy Easter. Let’s speak to each other about our meditation on the Scriptures and the insights from our spiritual reading. Importantly, may we also “proclaim the Good News” by our acts of charity to others, especially those most in need at this time.

By encouraging each other in faith, we’ll not be gloomy and despondent, but rather constantly rejoice in the Resurrection of Christ. As a popular Easter hymn says: “Seek not life within the tomb; Christ stands in the upper room!”