Easter conjures childhood memories of daffodils that pushed their way through the soil to announce the arrival of spring, of Easter bonnets and baskets, and of special Easter food. At our house in western Pennsylvania, the kitchen surged with life in the days leading up to Easter. Dough was kneaded, placed gingerly in large bowls and covered with dish cloths so that it would rise slowly but steadily. Rice pies, a local delicacy, were crafted with care and a delectable leg of lamb, symbolic of Jesus, the Paschal Lamb, was prepared for the Easter feast.
The Easter after Mom died, I decided to host my own holiday dinner at our house as she had done for so many years. I invited our family, some of whom came from as far away as New York. I retrieved the Easter decorations from the attic and dressed up the house. I baked the Easter bread and the rice pies. I prepared the leg of lamb, put it in the oven and set the table—just as Mom used to do. Mom was no longer there, but somehow performing the ritual of our Easter dinner made her present. That’s what rituals do.
That’s what we do each time we gather for liturgy. We make present the person of Jesus through the rituals of the Mass. Liturgical symbols also make present the person of Jesus by helping us to relate to Jesus in new ways. Water washes us, renews us, and quenches our thirst. So does Jesus. Oil soothes us and heals us. So does Jesus. Light guides us and gives us direction. So does Jesus. Bread and wine nourish us and sustain us. So does Jesus. Liturgical symbols are packed with meaning. They invite us to see beyond the ordinary and to understand more deeply the mysteries they symbolize. That’s what symbols do.
Symbols are powerful. Today’s gospel reveals a powerful symbol. At the place where Jesus was buried, the disciples discover something completely unexpected—an empty tomb. Mary of Magdala sees the empty tomb and believes what appears to be obvious—the body of Jesus was stolen. But the other disciple sees beyond the obvious. The gospel tells us that this disciple saw the empty tomb and believed. That’s what faith does.
May we, who celebrate the rituals and witness the symbols of Easter, have the faith to see beyond the ordinary and beyond the emptiness to fullness of life in God. That’s what Easter calls us to do.