April 5, 2026 at Saint Peter the Apostle and Saint Agnes Churches in Naples, FL
Acts of the Apostles 10: 34, 37-43 + Psalm 118 + 1 Corinthians 5: 6-8 + Matthew 28: 1-10
You would never catch an important detail here unless you read the resurrection reports of Mark, Luke, and John at the same time. There is something different here that can give us hope and lasting joy. In the other Gospels, when the women arrived, the stone was already rolled away. In the Gospel of Matthew, the stone is still in place, and the angel rolls it away while they are standing there. Matthew is revealing a new Jesus who does not need to have the tomb open. This is a Jesus who moves through that stone, who moves through anything that might keep him from returning to the father.
My friends, all of us live from time to time as though we are intombed and unable to really be free to live and finish our journey to the Father. Broken promises, shame, guilt, loved ones lost because of our greed or our refusal to forgive are all huge stones that leave us trapped and alone. These things and more are like that stone that once kept Christ locked in a tomb. As Matthew tells it today, nothing can keep this man of love away from us. He passes right through that stone. This man of love, this man who gives human flesh to God’s love is with us still, and that is why we crowd together today to rejoice and celebrate the truth that God is with us, and no matter what barriers, sins, stones or doubts we have Christ can pass through them continuing to show us the way to the Father.
I pray with you today that the one who passed through that stone may pass through stony hearts made so by disappointment and pain. I pray with you today that the power of God’s word may lead us all to discover that we are never alone no matter how many or how great are the stones we may have piled up in front of us. We rejoice and sing Alleluia today because we are free, forgiven, loved unconditionally, and God the Father will allow nothing to keep his love and his son away from us.