The humiliation of resurrection

Sermon for the Sunday of the Resurrection

Together this Triduum,

we have been looking

at the humiliation

which Our Lord accepts 

in order to save us.

We are learning

that humiliation is

a return to being grounded.

We see Our Lord

ground Himself

to wash the dust off our feet

so that we can be exalted.

We see Our Lord

mocked, 

spat in,

slapped

and laughed at in His agony.

We see Our Lord

placed in the tomb

with the intention

of allowing Him 

to return to earth,

a final expression

from His lovers

that He was not no-one.

We have seen Our Lord

show us what humility is.

How then can the Resurrection

be an act of humility?

[PAUSE]

Surely the Resurrection

is the exact opposite

of humility.

Surely the Resurrection

says, "look at Me,

I've beaten Death!"

Surely the Resurrection

is an act of self-exaltation

a showing off

an "aren't I brilliant?"

Surely the Resurrection

is not an example

of having your feet on the ground.

[PAUSE]

It is when you realise

that the Resurrection

is for our benefit alone

and not for Our Lord's

that His humility

is shown even here.

In the Resurrection,

Our Lord's human nature

willingly submits

to His divine nature.

Human nature

goes to the grave.

Divine nature

cannot die.

After such brutal punishment,

human nature would see Death

as a release,

an end of pain

an chance of unlimited rest.

After His death,

Our Lord could simply

have returned to Heaven

and ruled from there.

That's not what He does.

He does not take up 

His crown.

He does not wear 

His robes of state

not carry His orb and sceptre.

He is not raised 

in a blaze of glory

in the sight of His persecutors

and executors.

His Resurrection is small.

It is intimate.

It is for those who love Him.

Yes, He has triumphed over death.

But His victory 

does not come

at the expense

of forcing people

to see Him as He is.

He would rather choose

a simple, quiet, joyful Resurrection

than a loud, brash 

incontrovertible statement

which forces people

to be a Christian.

His Resurrection is not for Him.

It is for us.

[PAUSE]

Our Lord's Resurrection

is grounded in truth.

Christ is God

but He does not cling to being God

out of love, respect, 

and to offer us Himself

as He really is.

This is humility.

There is no pretence.

There is no distortion of the Truth.

There is no ulterior motive.

In His Resurrection,

He offers us Eternal life

with what really is,

not what just appears to be.

[PAUSE]

One day,

we will see Him in glory.

And then, 

St John reminds us,

we shall be like Him

for we will see Him 

as He really is.