Easter Vigil - We remember, we celebrate, we believe

Happy Easter Everyone. Tonight is the night of all nights. For tonight Easter night is the greatest night in all of Christendom.  For tonight Jesus Christ is risen. Tonight we remember this through all the readings we have heard. Tonight we celebrate the mother of all liturgical celebrations with great solemnity all over the world. Tonight we believe in God’s goodness as Jesus triumphs over death with his resurrection.  We remember, we celebrate, we believe.

There is this ancient tale of Elie Wiesel about the Hasidims (conservative Jews) in Eastern Europe during the 1700’s.  One day a great misfortune was threatening the Jews of that area. And so the great Rabbi Israel Baal Shem-Tov started a tradition. The great leader would go into a certain part of the forest to meditate. There he would do a ritual of lighting a fire.  Then he would say a special prayer, and the miracle would be accomplished and the misfortune averted. Go to the forest, light a fire, say the prayer – his formula for redemption. This went on for years and the people were always safe.  

After many years another threat of disaster loomed over the people. This time it was his disciple’s turn (the celebrated Magid) to intercede with heaven, he went to the same place in the forest and say: "Master of the Universe, listen! I do not know how to light the fire, but I am still able to say the prayer." And again the miracle would be accomplished. 

Many generations later, another misfortune was about to befall upon this people.  Their leader at this time Rabbi Moshe-Leib of Sasov, in order to save his people once more, would go into the forest but this time he would say: "Dear God, I do not know how to light the fire, I do not know the prayer, but I still know the place in this forest and this must be sufficient."  True enough, it was sufficient and the miracle was accomplished.

Then after more than a hundred years, the task now fell upon Rabbi Israel of Rizhyn to overcome misfortune. The people just saw him sitting in his armchair, his head in his hands, he spoke to God: "I am unable to light the fire and I do not know the prayer; I cannot even find the place in the forest. All I can do is to tell the people the story, and this must be sufficient." And it was sufficient.

We Remember. For the Hasidic Jews to remember the story of how they were saved was crucial. So is it too with us Christians.  That is why tonight all the various readings we  have just heard (Adam and Eve and the promise of a savior, the promise fulfilled in Exodus)
These stories remind us how we were saved.  That is why we have to remember the story and pass it on to the next generation that it may never be forgotten…. Because we remember

We celebrate. Tonight also we lighted the fire and we said the blessing prayers of old.  Through that light of the Paschal candle we went forth like those rabbis of old in our story going through the dark forest into that place where the celebration takes place.  The priest then installs the candle to light our celebration at the Altar of the Word and later to the altar of the eucharist.  This paschal candle will always be lighted throughout the easter season everytime we gather as God’s people here to remind us of the place of our salvation...which… We celebrate.

We Believe. Tonight is the night when we shall renew our baptismal promises.  We shall once again profess in front of the whole Church our faith.  The priest will ask us: Do we believe in God, in his resurrected Son, in the Holy Spirit whom we shall await…. And we shall boldly answer: We Believe.

We remember, we celebrate, we believe.

5th Sunday of Lent C - Go and sin no more.

Whenever we hear about crimes against humanity, or whenever we see people getting oppressed unjustly, or maybe even when someone hurts us… our natural instinct against that wrongdoer is to judge, to condemn and to revenge. Instead Isaiah in today’s first reading tells us of the ways of a God who even after the people turn against Him would “make a way in the wilderness” so that the people will find their way toward Him, and would “make rivers in the desert to give drink to his chosen people.” Even St Paul in the second reading gives a more merciful approach: “Forget what lies behind and strain forward to what lies ahead.”

But in truth, to judge, to condemn, and to revenge is deeply seated in us even in the monasteries. 

A young monk who was insulted by another brother came to Abba Sisoes (429) and wanted revenge: “Abba I was hurt by my brother, and I want to get back at him.”  Abba Sisoes tried to console him and said: "Don't do that, my child. Leave the matter in God’s hands.” But he said: "I will not rest until I get my revenge". In the presence of the young monk Abba Sisoes prayed out loud: “O God, we have no further need of you today. You can go away now because we have decided to deliver justice ourselves…” Upon hearing these words, the young monk fell at the feet of the Abba and said: "Forgive me, Abba. I am not going to fight with my brother any more."

Though our human instinct is very much prone to judge, condemn, and punish people who have fallen, Jesus presents us a different way - of rescuing the wrongdoer and setting them back on the path of life.

Let’s take a look at the gospel about the woman caught in adultery let us first take a look at what the Torah tells us: 

Leviticus 20:10- “The man who commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife will be put to death, he and the woman.”

Deuteronomy 22:22- “If a man is caught having sexual intercourse with another man’s wife, both must be put to death.”

And so a woman was brought to Jesus by the scribes and Pharisees and they wanted to test him: “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. In the law, this woman must be stoned to death. Now what do you say?

Now Jesus is confronted with a dilemma. If He were to say: “Release her. Set her free,” then the scribes and Pharisees will immediately accuse him of violating the Law given to them by Moses.  If he were to say: “Stone her,” how could Jesus ever again speak of love, the mercy, the compassion of God?

So Jesus says nothing. Instead he bends down and starts writing on the ground with his finger.

Now what did Jesus write? According to ancient traditions spearheaded by St Jerome, they believe Jesus was writing the sins of the woman’s accusers.

Another suggestion is that he wrote down one interesting question: “Where is the man?” You see if she was caught in the very act of adultery, those who apprehended her could just as easily apprehend the man. After all, Leviticus and Deuteronomy make it quite clear that both the man and the woman must be put to death. Why was the man allowed to escape then? Why wasn’t the man also brought before Jesus?

Then Jesus stood up and said: “Let anyone who is without sin, be the first to throw a stone at her.”  And they all went away one by one.

Jesus shows us a better way in dealing with sin that condemnation and punishment.  He never denied or condoned sin. Rather He was more concerned of rescuing the woman from her terrible situation. Thus setting her free to take on a better direction in life.

And Jesus now says to the woman: “Go and sin no more.” 

Sometimes we take this statement too lightly and for granted.  There is this boy who went to confession. “Bless me Father, I have stolen berries from my neighbor’s garden. The priest says: “For your penance say 3 Hail Mary’s. And go sin no more.” The boy replies: “O Father can you add 3 more Hail Mary’s, their apples will be ripe tomorrow.

Go and sin no more…. this is a tough one. Many times we fail and we get discouraged.

A young monk said to Abba Sisoes: “Abba, what should I do? I fell.” The elder monk answered: “Get up!” The young monk said: “I got up and I fell again!” The elder replied: “Get up again!” But the young monk asked: “But it’s exasperating… I keep falling down. For how long should I get up when I fall?” Abba Sisoes answered: “Until your death.  For a person will head to judgment either fallen or getting back up again.”

As an ancient Chinese non- Christian writer named Confucius would remind us: Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. 

References:

Plant,G. (2016). Go and Sin no more. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2u_OdUIV7Rw

Stories of the Desert Fathers. “Forgiveness.”

http://www.fatherpius.littleway.ca/desert03.html

Salt of the Earth. “A Fallen man seeks advice”

https://solzemli.wordpress.com/2011/06/19/a-fallen-monk-seeks-advice-from-saint-sisoes-the-great/