Today's reading shows us the tomb of Jesus. The stone has been moved away. The linen cloths are lying on the ground and the cloth that has been over his head is rolled up in a place by itself.

In the story of Lazarus two weeks ago Mary, Martha and Jesus came to the sealed tomb and Jesus told the people with them to move away the stone. When at Jesus' command Lazarus came out, his hands and feet were still bound and his face covered. Jesus told them to unbind Lazarus and let him go free.

Today's story is similar but different, so very different. The Divine Word-made-flesh has risen in glory. The life-giving Word of the new creation has spoken and with Him all flesh can come out of the tomb, leaving on the ground the linen cloths that bound us.

Last night's liturgy - the new fire, the light, the baptisms, the neophytes standing before us shining in their new life and new garments, the water sprinkled on us as we too reclaimed the fullness of God's life in us - everything still sings within us "Rejoice! Alleluia!"

It is the " first day of the week ", the new week of the new creation, but it is very early and " still dark " for Mary of Magdala who comes to the tomb not knowing that Jesus has risen.

All of her love is focussed on that tomb and the one buried there, the one who had given meaning to her life.

How many times in our lives have we not focussed on what we thought was dead? A new and glorious day was about to break upon us but we were unaware of it. Even when we noticed a change in the situation, we did not understand what it meant.

We did not believe that the " stone " that had been " moved away " might be a sign of good news. In panic we " came running to Simon Peter and the disciple whom Jesus loved ". We went to those we felt might be able to help us understand what was happening and do something to help. " They have taken the Lord out of the tomb and we don't know where they have put him ". That was how we felt.

A son has been on drugs. We have been praying for him for years and have resigned ourselves to it although we continue praying, hoping against hope. Then one day we notice something different in his "normal" everyday pattern.

We begin to wonder what it means. We panic. All kinds of thoughts go through our heads. We do not dare to think that this change might indicate improvement. We go to those we think might be able to help. They re-visit the scene with us.

They see the open tomb and the linen cloths lying on the ground. " Till that moment they had failed to understand the teaching of Scripture, that he must rise from the dead ".

Today we celebrate the rising from the dead of Jesus and of all who with Jesus have risen. We celebrate our neophytes. We celebrate our own newness of life.

We celebrate the newness of life experienced by people all over the world. But we celebrate as well those who are even now confused by the stone that has been moved away. It is still dark. Soon they will discover that a new day has begun.

Let us pray

Beloved Abba!

Our hearts sing a new song to you, a song of grateful joy and love and hope. We sing the stories of our neophytes who today rejoice in their newness of life. We sing the story of their lives and of your journey with them. We sing of our own lives and the love we have experienced and the sharing in your life that you have poured out on us and into us and through us.

Thank you for those who today stand before a "tomb" with trust in their hearts because Jesus has risen. They believe that a new day has dawned even if it is "still dark".

Beloved Jesus! Violence is still a reality. Wars continue. Families are painfully divided. The most vulnerable are still exploited. Injustice still abounds. But the alleluias we sing and the gurgling of the New Water, that we feel bubbling up within us today, are forces urging us on to claim the new day, to let Your water flow, washing away violence, injustice, exploitation and division and making spring up shoots of peace, love, justice and respect for all.

Living and life-giving God! Strengthen us to be attentive and responsive to your movements within us. Strengthen our commitment as your beloved sons and daughters. Let us live with your life and love with your love. Amen