WHAT IS OUR RESPONSE TO THE OPEN TOMB?

 

15 April 2017 Saturday - Easter Vigil

Sharing my notes taken @ Church of the Holy Family, Singapore

Homily by Rev Fr Donatien Davaine, MEP

 

 

 

 

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Do we let fear drive our existence?

Fear of the future, illnesses, our children, our job, what people think of us…..

We can imagine the fear of the disciples as they made their way to the tomb

For us too, we may be afraid...

The tomb carries the burden of a life where God seems to be absent

The tomb is opened and the angel proclaims that the Lord has resurrected.

It opens everyone up to the newness of life.

 

The opened tomb left Mary of Magdala perplexed, full of questions

It is the same with us when things unexpected happen, 

we stop short, we do not understand, we do not want to go in, 

we do not want what God asks of us.

 

We prefer to hold on to our own security, 

to just stay where we are, and stare

In front of the tomb

We are afraid of God’s surprises.

But God always surprises us

He is like that 

He is a light that dispels darkness

He is never-ending life offered to us

He never stops surprising us.

And He is ready to free us from all kinds of slavery and death

 

 

How are we freed by Him?

Come to the water, all you who thirst.

We experience Him in the Sacraments

Which transform our daily life

We pray for all fear to give way to confidence

Because we are heirs of God’s love.

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What is our response to the "open tombs” of our lives?

Do we allow fear to drive us?

Are we afraid of God’s surprises?

May we draw near to Jesus

Allow the Sacraments to daily transform us

so that our fears may give way to confidence and trust

and we can truly live in freedom

as heir of God’s love

in complete confidence and trust.