Word to the Wise
Sunday, April 12, 2020 - Easter Sunday: The Resurrection of the Lord; The Mass of Easter Day - ABC
[Acts 10:34a, 37-43; Col 3:1-4 or 1 Cor 5:6b-8; John 20:1-9]Do you not know that a little yeast leavens all the dough? Clear out the old yeast, so that you may become a fresh batch of dough, inasmuch as you are unleavened. For our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us celebrate the feast, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. [1 Corinthians]
In the story of the Passover in the Book of Exodus, we are told that the Israelites had to eat their last meal in Egypt in haste and did not have time to allow for bread to rise. They ate unleavened bread. Once they were freed from slavery, they could once more have the time to allow yeast to do its work. It takes time to do this and it cannot be rushed. (I like to bake bread!). St. Paul's preaching builds on that historical image and on the common experience all bakers have. The resurrection of Jesus is a summons to a new life, received in baptism, which so many of us do not remember because we were infants when it happened. That "baptismal yeast" can lie dormant if we do not provide it with something to work on!!
We celebrate Easter - the feast of the Lord's resurrection - in a much more subdued fashion this year because of the COVID-19 Coronavirus scourge. We surely hope we will never see another instance like this one. We are hoping for deliverance soon and perhaps the feast of Pentecost will be a kind of "new Easter" for us this year. In the meantime, although our "Alleluia's" are subdued, they can be no less sincere and true if we are resolved to take advantage of this virus-imposed season to purge out the old leaven and start anew. (Maybe wel'll wash our hands more often, now!). It may take time, as yeast usually does, but the results will be marvelous, and give us truly a reason to celebrate with ALLELUIAS!
To all my Beloved Congregation I wish a blessed Easter celebration in whatever way you can fashion it. Christ is truly risen. He can be our yeast and enable us, too, to "rise" to a renewed and healthy life. AMEN