By Fr. Francis Gonsalves, SJ –
“So, you thought you’d crucify me and keep me locked in the tomb, eh?” jests a jocular Jesus in a WhatsApp message I received recently. His punchline is: “I’ve risen! I’m alive! April fools!”
This year—in a rare coincidence occurring way back in 1956—Easter Sunday and April Fools’ Day coincide. Christians are exhorted not to celebrate April Fools’ Day. But, methinks that the biggest fools were Jesus’ criticizers and crucifiers, whose folly is laid bare when Jesus rises, resplendent. Truly, the Easter Jesus has the last laugh as life destroys death and goodness crushes evil.
This year, strangely, Ash Wednesday (February 14) also coincided with Valentine’s Day. I believe that love, life, dying, rising are all intimately linked; for, the loveliest love is seemingly foolishly squandered—unexpectedly, unconditionally, uncalculatedly—in loving one’s beloved, even unto death.
Apostle Paul said: “We preach Christ crucified—an obstacle to Jews and foolishness to Greeks.” Jews abhorred crucifixion since only murderers and rebels against the Romans rulers were crucified. The Book of Deuteronomy says: “Cursed is the one who is hung on a tree;” for, the crucified were nailed, naked, after a backbreaking scourging. Similarly, Greeks held that god couldn’t suffer since god was enthroned ‘up there’ in the highest heavens, unconcerned about human affairs. But, we Christians believe that God is ‘down here’—suffering in solidarity with us, providing meaning to our suffering and pain.
Don’t you admire your mother who sacrifices herself daily to see you prosper? Aren’t you grateful to those soldiers who face bullets and death so that you are safe within your country’s borders? Foolish and lavish though these self-sacrificing actions seem, it is through the love and selfless sacrifice of these that you and I are able to live happily, safely, fruitfully.
This Easter Sunday and April Fools’ Day, let’s reflect on the apparent ‘foolishness of love’. Lebanese mystic Khalil Gibran says: “Much as love crowns you, so will love crucify you.” Indeed, these words wondrously echo Jesus’ exhortation: “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” True love is not cheap; it is ready to pay the ultimate price of loving—death, itself.
A loquacious lover used to babble: “I love you, love you, love you,” to his fiancée. Sick and tired of this prattle, she once asked, “Do you really love me?” He replied, “Oh, yes!” Then, she asked, “Will you die for me?” Witty and wily as he was, he retorted, “No! Mine is an undying love!” Jesus’ undying love is precisely a loving dying that resulted in eternal life for you, and for me.
As Christians we can boldly say, “Alleluia! We are an Easter people!” Today, let’s pledge to be seemingly foolish in our giving and luxuriantly lavish in our loving! Remember, Christ’s ‘foolishness of the cross’ is far wiser that the wisdom of overly wealthy, wily, wicked men and women.
Opposing sin, evil, exploitation, corruption and injustice might get crucified. Fear not! Every cross—borne with faith, hope and love—inevitably leads to an empty tomb. Satyameva jayate! Happy Easter to foolish lovers! God always has the last laugh.
Fr. Francis Gonsalves is a Gujarat Jesuit, former Principal of Vidyajyoti College, Delhi, and currently Dean of Theology at Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth, Pune. He is also the Executive Secretary of the CCBI Commission for Theology and Doctrine. He has authored many books and articles and is a columnist with The Asian Age and The Deccan Chronicle national dailies.