During our diocesan pilgrimage to the Holy Land last February very early in the dark of pre-dawn, our group walked and prayed the 14 Stations of the Way of the Cross. Our journey through the narrow, rugged cobblestone streets of Jerusalem ended at the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher. Within the Basilica are located Golgotha where the Lord died on the Cross and also the tomb donated by Joseph of Arimathea in which the body of Jesus was buried and out of which He rose on that first Easter morn. Over centuries chapels have been built around these two sites within the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher, which is considered the most sacred Christian sanctuary in the world. The salvation of the human race by Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God, His Crucifixion and Death on a Cross and His Resurrection from the dead took place there.
After entering the Basilica, we climbed steep steps to venerate the place where Our Lord died on the Cross. On our knees we prayed with deep faith in that dark chapel where the Cross of the Lord once stood and where He died. Then we came down from Calvary and found our way around the massive Basilica to the tomb into which the body of Jesus was laid after His death on the Cross. There we offered Mass; what a thrilling experience to be where the Lord’s body had been placed after His death. The tomb was emptied out on the first Easter when Christ rose out from the place of the dead.
I was privileged to be the principal celebrant of that Mass which was offered inside that tomb, on a slab of marble placed over the grave. The concelebrating priests were positioned directly outside in a small antechamber and our group of pilgrims was seated in front of the tomb. The community of Franciscan Friars who care for the Shrine joined us to sing the early morning Mass. The Scriptures were proclaimed on the outside, in front of the tomb. From the Offertory of the Mass to the Communion Rite, Deacon Jim Hogan and I were inside the tomb and the concelebrants in the antechamber. Decorated hanging candle lamps gave off shaded light which was dispersed around the vaulted ceiling to create a subdued atmosphere inside the tomb.
The deacon and I were squeezed together in that small space where the power of God was shown in all its divine might on that first Easter morn when Christ rose from death to life. It was an emotional spiritual experience to offer Mass where Jesus was entombed and out of which He rose. At the conclusion of the Mass, each pilgrim in our group entered the tomb to venerate the place where Jesus was buried and from where He rose from the dead. For each of them it was also an emotional spiritual experience to be in the very place where the chains of death could not keep their hold on the Son of God. Those chains were broken by the power of God who beat back death at the resurrection of Christ.
Memories of our loved ones who have died flooded our minds, thoughts and hearts. I felt, as I never felt before, so connected to them in Christ whose dead body had laid in that tomb out of which He rose to life. As I prayed that Mass the words of the angel to the women who came to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus, “whom are you looking for? He is not here. He has been raised from the dead,” were repeating in my head. Death could not hold nor extinguish Christ nor those who have died in Him.
Jesus died; Jesus was buried; Jesus rose to life! This is the Paschal Mystery which we share through Baptism. Death had no power over Him. Alleluia!! He lives. Alleluia!! His tomb is empty. Alleluia!! This truth of our faith came to life during our pilgrimage to the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem.
This Easter may this truth come to life for you. It is the core confession of our Christian faith — Jesus passed over death to life. He was seen by His disciples in a variety of appearances to them. Those encounters with the Risen Lord radically changed that ragtag group of Apostles and disciples into His convinced witnesses. These witnesses, with great zeal, even in the face of persecutions, took the story of Jesus’ death on a Cross and Resurrection from the dead to the world around them.
Jesus’ empty tomb invites us out of different types of darkness that may shroud our lives. The empty tomb reminds us that such darkness can be escaped; they can be turned into experiences of light; they can be abandoned and they can be risen above. Jesus is risen and we are risen in Him. We can rise above life’s sufferings, pains, tears and disappointments. And, on the last day we can rise above death. The resurrection is an assurance of things to come and a promise that all tombs will one day be empty. This is the mystery of faith we celebrate on Easter Sunday and for the 50 days of the Easter Season.
A Blessed Easter to each of you. May the joy of this Holy Day and the Easter Season reach into your lives and indeed into the whole world. May Easter bring you New Life and Hope. The New Life Christ took on when He rose out of that tomb and the Hope that His death on the Cross and Resurrection from that tomb offer to us. He lives. It is Easter.
Most Reverend Dennis J. Sullivan, D.D.
Bishop of Camden