"The Risen Christ and the Light of Faith," Bishop's Easter message

Saint John, the Evangelist, reports about the first Easter Sunday, “On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalen came to the tomb in the early morning, while it was still dark.” (Jn 20:1) It was “dark” because it was in the early morning and it was “dark” because Mary had not yet believed that Jesus rose from the dead. When she encountered the Risen Lord the “dark” she experienced within herself changed as it did for Peter, for the disciple whom Jesus loved, and for the others who eventually believed that He rose from the dead.
Ever since, for all who profess Jesus of Nazareth risen from the dead, the “dark” is dimmed by the Light of Faith in the Risen Christ. Easter, the Resurrection of the Lord, shines the Light of Faith on the “dark” we may experience, even the “dark” of sin.
May this Easter 2020 bring the Light of Jesus’ Resurrection to the “dark” we are going through as we deal with the coronavirus: its rapid spread; the physical suffering and in some cases the death it causes its victims; the destructive effects it is having on our economy; the millions who are unemployed as society has shut down; our stretched medical industry; families who have lost loved ones and cannot even have a proper funeral. This Easter 2020 is preceded by the “dark” as the first Easter was for Mary Magdalen; but, then comes the morning of His Resurrection, then comes the light; then comes life.
It was all so unexpected, that He who died on the Cross and was buried in the tomb would be raised from the dead, but this is what God can do. This is the Paschal Mystery, death to life. The suffering and death of Jesus does not replace our suffering and death but it does give solidarity to us who are baptized into Him, the solidarity of God with us in our suffering and dying. His Resurrection brings us the promise of us rising to eternal life.
We have never celebrated an Easter Sunday such as Easter 2020. We cannot even go to church to Mass on Easter Sunday. Who would have ever thought or ever imagined such a situation? Let not this present “dark” cover the light that Easter faith brings to our lives. Let the light of the Resurrection shine on us who are surrounded by the “dark” of the Corona virus and its effects on us and on our way of life. Let us turn to the Risen Lord and pray: “Have Mercy.” God is not bothered by our pleas. Keep them going. Keep pestering Him. Our prayers and supplications will help to shine the light of Easter on the “dark” that surrounds us.
I recall Easters of my boyhood in the Bronx during the fifties. Each piece of clothing was new. Our home was scrubbed to a spit shine. After morning Mass we ate a huge Irish breakfast of sausages, eggs, black puddings with rolls from the neighborhood Italian bakery; at 3 p.m. the Easter dinner, always a roasted lamb with about 10 vegetables. (My Irish mother never got over the famine!) Dessert was served near 7 p.m. when we were joined by my aunt, her husband and my cousins. All the desserts were home baked. There was no such thing as store bought. Pies and cakes and biscuits and soda bread with gobs of butter.
There was drink for the adults. In those days it was pretty much limited to whiskey and beer which was followed by the reading of the Easter letters that had arrived from “home,” that is, Ireland. Then came the music, the sing-along and the dancing and even recitations. At some point my older siblings purchased a Victrola on which records spun.
I’m going to cherish those memories on this very strange Easter Sunday 2020. You have your own and I pray they comfort you, give you Hope, and, take away, even for a while, the “dark” of Easter 2020.
May the Light of the Lord’s Paschal Mystery, His death and resurrection shine brightly on you and yours and all the “dark” you are going through this Easter Sunday, 2020.
He IS Risen as He said. ALLELUIA!
 
Most Reverend Dennis J. Sullivan, D.D.
Bishop of Camden