Open on Sunday

Homily for Easter Sunday, Year C
Acts 10.34a,37-43 Psalm 118 Colossians 3.1-4 Luke 24.1-12

This past week, I was at a local restaurant and noticed a sign hanging on the front window. The sign had a picture of a crucifix on it, with the announcement: “We will be closed this Sunday, Easter, so that our employees can spend time with their families.” I was really a bit surprised – pleasantly surprised. Because this doesn’t happen very much any more. Now there are a few businesses that have a corporate-wide policy that they are closed on Sundays – every Sunday. But they are fewer and fewer, and even closing on one Sunday out of the year – Easter Sunday – is becoming a rare occurrence. So what’s the deal? Why has Sunday become more a day for shopping and housework than for prayer, rest, and time with family? And why is Sunday important anyway? I won’t speculate today on why or how what we do on Sunday has changed over time, but on this Easter Day it is good for us to remember why Sunday is significant to begin with. And it all starts and ends with one thing – the Resurrection.

That Sunday morning so long ago, when the women came to the tomb and found it empty, was the turning point of all creation. From that Sunday morning, everything changed. No longer are we caught in the trap of sin, no longer does death control us. From that Sunday morning when Christ rose from the dead, the gates of heaven have been opened for us, death has been conquered, and sin has been destroyed. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead gives meaning to our lives – it tells us that we are not alone, Christ is always with us, and he longs to make us holy in this life and to bring us to himself in the life to come. When we remember that, when we remember the Resurrection that happened on a Sunday morning so long ago, we will want to celebrate our redemption each time the calendar turns to the first day of the week, the day of light, the day of joy, the day of Resurrection.

And how do we mark that day? The sign on the restaurant window this week said it well – we spend time with our families. We first of all spend time with our family of faith, with the family of God, when we make Mass a priority in our routines each and every Sunday. But we might also spend time with our earthly family, strengthening the bonds that tie us to our blood relatives and those who are like family to us. Or we might spend time on Sunday creating new families, visiting the sick or shut-ins, studying Scripture with a small group of people, or writing notes to loved ones who are distant from us. Somehow – in some way – Sunday should be different for us as Christians. A day for family, a day with God, a day celebrating the risen life that we have received. Really, it’s pretty simple. But it takes priorities and it takes intentional effort. And remember – no matter what else is closed on Sundays, you will always find the church open.