Easter Sermon on Matthew 28:1-10

By Fr. Mike Paraniuk
St. Mary Catholic Church
St. Benignus Catholic Church 
St. Mary Queen of Heaven
and Holy Trinity Catholic Church

A little boy had a major heart surgery. The outcome was uncertain because the operation was so new. I sat in the hospital room with the mom and dad. 

Doctors and nurses gathered around his bed. All eyes were fixed on the heart monitor. There were many chest tubes injecting medicine to help his heart keep beating. As time passed the heart beats grew slower and more shallow. I heard the doctor whisper to the nurse, "We're losing him."

The heart monitor displayed what no one ever wants to see. Electric activity that could barely be seen. The beeps of the heartbeat grew faint. 

Mom and Dad were invited to sit near their boy's bed. They gently touched their boy's hand and arm. Mom quietly spoke. "We love you so much. Come back to us." 

Then, the miracle happened. The heart monitor rang out a most welcome sound. 

"Beep...Beep...Beep."  A wave of electric activity burst forth. The heart rhythm returned. I could hear the doctor say, "This kid must be Lazarus." 

With an increase of medication, the beeps kept sounding and the heart kept beating. That boy was discharged to home after several weeks. I saw his mom and dad as they were leaving. 

I told the boy, "Your Mom and Dad are so happy. Ask Dad to buy you a car now. Garage it until you're 16." 

The smiling dad said to me, "God gave my boy the best gift...his own special Easter." 

The Resurrection of Jesus at Easter is not just a one-day celebration. Jesus gives you your own special Easter anytime you feel trapped in a tomb of worry or fear. Jesus can roll back your stone of hopelessness. 

God says, "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11.)  

As I grow older, I am very aware there are so many things I have no control over. I need God's guidance and grace (God's Love in action) more than ever. I believe God will do for me what I cannot do for myself. It's so cool that after the angel rolled back the stone, he sat on it. It's like the angel was saying, "God's in charge. He got your problems taken care of. He has changed the stone that trapped you into a comfortable chair for you." (Resting on a large stone during a long hike can be very relaxing).

The problem happens when I try to do for myself instead of trusting that God can help me if I just get out of the way. I need to give God more freedom to work in my life. 

When I was a small boy, I went deer hunting with my father. I was horrified when I saw a young deer trapped in a barbed-wire fence. That poor deer kept flailing around trying to get free. But the more it struggled the tighter the barbed wire gripped it. My dad and the other hunters had to hold it still so they could cut away the barbed wire. It's the same with God. Just hold still. Let God cut away the barbs and snares of problems that you find yourself caught in. Do not fear. 

Jesus said to the women when He met them on the road, “Greetings," he said. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid." (Matthew 28:9-10.)

Someone once said, “Egg hunts are proof that your children can find things when they really want to.” God has a special Easter waiting just for you. It's there. If you look with the eyes of faith, you will find it. Happy Easter.