Message of Abbot Paul - Easter Monday
Message from Fr Paul for Monday, 5th April 2021
Easter Monday is known in Italy and in many countries in Latin America as “Monday of the Angel.” Today the Angel of the Resurrection, who proclaimed to the women, who came to the tomb of Jesus very early in the morning of the first day of the week, that he was risen from the dead. “Why look among the dead for one who is alive. He is not here. He is risen.” Today is a holiday, when families come together and, if possible, go for a picnic in the countryside or high up on a nearby mountain. There’s special food to be prepared and eaten, games for all, singing and dancing. Sometimes families join together and celebrate late into the evening. No one works today, not even the Pope! I have many happy memories of my childhood days spent with my grandmother and family in Umbria. What I loved most, and still do, was the “torta di Pasqua”, Easter cake, a tall, round, savoury cake made with parmesan, gruyere and pecorino cheeses and all the eggs not eaten during Lent. For a picnic, it is sliced horizontally and layered with prosciutto, capocollo, tuna, artichokes, frittata and other local delicacies. If Easter is about the Resurrection, then Monday of the Angel is most surely a taste of heaven.
Today’s Gospel passage comes from Matthew, (Mt 28: 8-15), and recounts a meeting between Jesus and the women, followed by the reaction of the high priests to the events taking place. “Filled with awe and great joy the women came quickly away from the tomb and ran to tell the disciples. And there, coming to meet them, was Jesus. ‘Greetings’ he said. And the women came up to him and, falling down before him, clasped his feet. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers that they must leave for Galilee; they will see me there.’” The women. filled with awe and joy, are running to tell the disciples what they have seen, when Jesus comes to meet them on the road. Now they really will have something to tell the disciples, the very words of the risen Lord, that they must go back to Galilee, where they will see him again. The faith, obedience and love of the women is contrasted with the negative attitude and hardness of heart of the high priests.
“While they were on their way, some of the guard went off into the city to tell the chief priests all that had happened. These held a meeting with the elders and, after some discussion, handed a considerable sum of money to the soldiers with these instructions, ‘This is what you must say, “His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.” And should the governor come to hear of this, we undertake to put things right with him ourselves and to see that you do not get into trouble.’ The soldiers took the money and carried out their instructions, and to this day that is the story among the Jews.” Bribery, corruption, cover up and lies are the order of the day. If a prophet and preacher, a miracle worker and man who claimed God to be his Father wasn’t trouble enough, now they have his followers claiming that he is risen from the dead, that they have seen him and spoken with him, and what if this has really happened? Jesus had said to the women, “Do not be afraid,” but it is really the chief priests and elders of the people who are now running scared, it is they who are afraid. So often it is fear that motivates the forces of evil and underscores oppressive regimes. Just look around our world today. Lord, show us how we can bring light where there is darkness, hope where there is despair, joy where there is gloom, goodness where there is evil and love where there is hate. Show us how to be apostles of the truth.
