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Bible Study, Prayer, and Homily Resources
by Fr. Tommy Lane
Newgrange in Ireland is one of the best-known prehistoric tombs in the world. It is about 40 miles northwest of Dublin and was built about 3000 B.C. It is about 500 years older than the Great Pyramid at Giza. What is special about Newgrange is that every year on the Winter Solstice on December 21st as the sun rises, its light shines through the 60 foot (18m) long passageway which leads into the central burial chamber. The tomb was built in such a way that at sunrise on the shortest day of the year the sun illuminates the central burial chamber for about seventeen minutes. Why was Newgrange built in this way? While no one knows for sure, there has been speculation that the builders believed the sunlight would take the souls of the dead to the next life. We could say they were looking for Jesus and belief in the resurrection, and this was the closest they got to it. How blessed we are to know Jesus, the one whom they sought but did not yet know.
What a joy for us to celebrate
Jesus’ resurrection tonight beginning with a service of light. The true light that enlightens
the world is not the sun but Jesus. His resurrection has scattered the darkness
and brought us the true light. Many times in the Gospel of John, Jesus reminds us
that he is the light of the world (John 1:9; 3:19; 8:12; 9:5; 12:46).
Those who
accept the Shroud of Turin as the burial cloth of Jesus believe that its image
was quite literally formed by the light of Jesus. Skeptics have proposed many
theories for how the image of the crucified man got imprinted on the Shroud of
Turin. But the image is not made by pigment or paint and is only on the surface
of the cloth fibers; it doesn’t penetrate the cloth fibers. Those who
accept the Shroud of Turin as the burial cloth of Jesus suggest that the
explanation for the formation of the image on the cloth is that something like
radiation put the image on the cloth at the moment of Jesus’ resurrection. The
light of Jesus at the moment of his resurrection has left us his image.
In
Guadalupe last year (2007), Jesus showed himself to be the
light of the world. A
press release from the Association of Catholic Nurses, Doctors and Health
Professionals in France, April 30, 2007, reported that after Mass an
unexplained light came from the image of the Virgin Mary at the Shrine of
Guadalupe in Mexico City immediately after the municipal council of Mexico City
legalized abortion on April 24, 2007. An intense light emanated from Our Lady’s
abdomen, forming a brilliant halo in the shape of an embryo. A scientist, Luis Girault,
studied the negative which had been sent to France by the Mexican Centro de
Bioethica Rioplatense, and declared that the picture had not been modified or
altered and that the light does not come from any reflection, but literally
comes
from the inside of the image of the Virgin. The light is very white,
pure, and intense, and different from regular lights produced by flash
cameras. It is encircled with a halo and appears to float inside the
abdomen of the Virgin and has the form and measurements of an embryo.
Furthermore, looking at the light more closely shows that it has some
areas of shade, like the characteristics of an embryo in the womb. Jesus
is indeed the light of the world.
The Old Testament readings tonight give us a quick summary of the history of our salvation until Jesus. Jesus’ resurrection is the light shining at the center of history illuminating it all and showing all of history in a new light. Everything needs to be reinterpreted in the light of the resurrection of Jesus. Nothing is ever again the same. Those who built the burial tomb at Newgrange were looking for Jesus and his resurrection, unknown to themselves. What a privilege for us that we believe in the resurrection of Jesus and celebrate it here tonight. Our reason for joy is greater still because we believe that we will share in Jesus’ resurrection thanks to our baptism. That is why we renew our baptismal promises again tonight.
In our New Testament reading tonight (Rom 6:3-11), Paul said that when we were baptized, we joined Jesus in death by going into the tomb with him and rising to new life with him. He explains that when we were baptized we left behind our old way of life and enjoy the new life of Jesus. Therefore Paul urges us, “you too must think of yourselves as (being) dead to sin and living for God in Christ Jesus.” (Rom 6:11)
The women went to Jesus’ tomb early on the Sunday morning, but Jesus was not there. The angel(s) told them that Jesus is risen. The women, apostles, and disciples would meet the risen Jesus later. For us, sharing in Jesus’ resurrection and meeting the risen Jesus is not just something we hope for in the future; it is also for us now. Jesus offers life now. The new life in the resurrection is for now. Don’t miss out on the offer of Jesus’ life to you now. Don’t waste life; live life with Jesus. Live the life of Jesus now.
Those who built the burial tomb at Newgrange were looking for Jesus and his resurrection, unknown to themselves. What a privilege for us that we believe in Jesus’ resurrection and celebrate it here today. Thanks be to God for our baptism through which we share in Jesus’ resurrection.
Copyright © Fr. Tommy Lane 2008
This homily was delivered in a parish in Maryland.
More Homilies for the Easter Vigil
Make Space for the Risen Jesus 2022
Roll Away the Stone and Meet the Risen Jesus
Christ is Risen! The Night is as clear as Day! 2011
You Will Meet the Risen Jesus in Galilee in Your Everyday Life
Related Homilies: Jesus Did Rise on Easter Sunday! 2021
stories about the next life and death