"He is risen, he is not here." St. Mark, 16:6.
In English history we read of two holy bishops who came over from France to help fight heresies that were disturbing the peace of the Church in England. While they were working among the British, the pagan Picts and Scots launched an attack on England. The Britons begged the saintly visitors to accompany their army to help fight off their pagan enemies.
It was shortly after Easter when the little band of Christians set forth to stop the invading heathens. At their head was St. Germain, who had once been a brave and skillful military leader. He asked the soldiers to keep the best possible order, and as soon as they saw the enemy to repeat the battle cry he would give them.
No sooner did the Picts and Scots show themselves than the holy bishop shouted at the top of his voice the Easter greeting, "Alleluia" which means "Praise ye Jehovah, or Praise ye the Lord."
Immediately his followers shouted with all their might, "Alleluia, Alleluia." The mountains echoed with the thundering cry. The barbarian invaders were astonished and confused. They took to their heels in wild disorder. St. Germain and his tiny army won the day without shedding a drop of blood.
The Alleluia has always been a cry of victory for the followers of Christ. Today, Easter day, it echoes and re-echoes in the ceremonies of the Church. Yesterday, Holy Saturday, the Church already sang Alleluia, Praise ye the Lord. Today we praise the Lord for the thrilling victory our Lord and Savior won over death and sin. We praise the Lord who has risen gloriously from the grave.
But the victory which Christ wins today is the reward of obedience. As the royal singer tells us: "An obedient man shall speak of victory." Psalm 21:28. Last Friday we considered Christ as the perfect Model for those who must obey. Today we would like to think of Him as the perfect Model for those who command. This fits in with our treatment of the Fourth Commandment.
Under the heading of superior we include everyone who has any responsibility to others, we include God and the leaders of God's Church. We include all fathers and mothers, all teachers and government officials. For all under God, Christ is the perfect Model.
1. A true leader, Jesus never asked His followers to do anything He had not done. He asks us to pray and do penance and help our neighbor. He led the way. During the first Lent in the desert Christ fasted and prayed. He helped the poor. He preached the word.
2. He was thoughtful of those under Him. He provided a meal for the Apostles on the river bank. He fed five thousand hungry listeners. He lifted a fallen woman.
3. During His passion He was considerate of His friends. When the soldiers seized Him, He asked that they let His followers go their way.
4. He was a forgiving superior. Even though the treachery of Judas brought Jesus to His death, He was ready to forgive up to the very last minute. He took St. Peter back to His heart after his cowardly denial.
5. There is a saying, all too true but too often forgotten, that no one can efficiently or rightfully command unless he has first learned to obey. We saw last Friday how Christ led a life of perfect obedience right up to His last breath, which was obediently offered into the hands of His heavenly Father. Christ was a perfect Superior because He was a perfect Inferior. He was perfect in commanding because He was perfect in obeying.
6. Christ showed the big-hearted spirit of a true leader by not punishing those who were responsible for His sufferings and His death. Even during His passion one whispered word would have destroyed His tormentors. Not one word of condemnation or complaint escaped His divine lips. After His resurrection He could have taken revenge on His assassins. He could have gloated over His victory. But there was nothing of the kind in the Easter story.
7. He provided for His mother in His last painful moments. He felt a deep responsibility toward her who had brought Him into the world, toward the sweet mother who had cared for Him and who had stayed with Him to the bitter end. He told St. John to take care of her.
8. Lastly, Christ was the only leader of men who ever rose from the grave, who ever showed His power so conclusively and so decisively. Glorious, triumphant, powerful, yet kind and considerate, He shows today the extent, the unlimited reach of His power. He proves His superiority, His supremacy.
And every human leader and superior will be a success only in so far as he follows the Model Leader and Superior, Christ Himself.
As we sing Alleluia today, as we sing "Praise ye the Lord" we will sing it first of all in praise of the loving Lord who rose from the grave early this morning. We will praise His power, and glory, we will praise His beauty and matchless majesty. We will praise His qualities of leadership. We will praise the Model Superior.
In similar strain, may we be able to praise the Lord for the leaders and superiors in our lives. Praise the Lord for the leader He has given to our Church, Pope Benedict XVI; praise the Lord for our saintly and scholarly bishops, especially Archbishop Burke; praise the Lord for our faithful and zealous priests; praise the Lord for all worthy parents; praise the Lord for our statesmen and conscientious public officials; praise the Lord for our teachers and professors. Yes, praise the Lord for all who are worthy of their responsibility to lead and guide others.
When the forces of right can join in this song, when the army of Christ can praise the Lord for good leaders in Church and home and state, then we know that the pagan powers, the forces of evil, will be turned back and the world will be won for the Christ who rose today.
Praise ye the risen Christ. Alleluia. Amen.
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Adapted from Talks on the Commandments
by Fr. Arthur Tonne, OFM (© 1948)
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