Fr. Rick’s Two Minute Homily for Easter Sunday

April 5, 2026, Matthew 28: 1-10

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040526.cfm

The Ragman

One Friday morning, I saw a young man, 6-5, handsome, arms like tree limbs, pulling a cart and singing as he went along, “Rag man! Rag man! Give me your old rags for new ones! I noticed that his eyes sparkled with intelligence.”

I was curious to follow him as he approached the back porch of a house where a woman was sobbing into a handkerchief. He said so gently, “Give me your old rag and I’ll give you another.” When she handed it over, he placed a new silk cloth in her hands that looked so new it seemed to glow. He then continued on his way, holding her handkerchief to his face and sobbing with the woman’s cries. Yet she seemed to have no more tears.

What a mystery, I thought. And I heard him sobbing as he cried out, pulling his cart of rags, “New rags for old ones!” He came upon a girl whose head was wrapped in a bandage, and a line of blood streamed down her cheek. “Give me your old rag and I’ll give you mine.” He gently unwrapped the bandage and tied it around his own head. As he put a yellow hat on her head, a wound formed on his own head with a line of blood that began to flow down his cheek.

Sobbing, bleeding, yet strong and intelligent, the ragman picked up his pace and continued to cry out, “Rag! I take old rags.” A man sat on a bench with his face in his hands. “Are you not going to work?” asked the Ragman. With a sneer, he opened his jacket. “Yea, with one arm.” The Ragman replied, “Give me your jacket and I’ll give you mine.” As the Ragman took off his jacket, his own arm stayed in the sleeve. When the other man put on this jacket, he had two good arms, while the Ragman had only one. With quiet authority, the Ragman said, “Go to work.”

Finally, the Ragman found a drunk lying unconscious and covered with an old army blanket. Wrapping the blanket around himself, he left the man a new set of clothes.

Bleeding, stumbling with drunkenness, with one arm, he pulled the cart at a terrific speed. How much he had changed when I first laid eyes on him. He came upon a landfill, and with what seemed the last ounce of strength, he climbed a heap of garbage, cleared a space, and with a sigh, he lay down. He made a pillow out of the jacket and handkerchief, covered himself up with the army blanket, and just like that, he died.

After witnessing such a death, I couldn’t leave. It was cold, so I climbed into a junk car and cried to sleep. I was so worn out with sadness. I slept through Friday night and Saturday too.

On Sunday, I was awakened by a violent light. It was pure and penetrating as it slammed against my face. I looked into the light, and there he was, the Ragman, folding the blanket so carefully, a scar on his forehead, but nonetheless, alive.

I got out of the car and trembled as I found myself helplessly walking to him. With shame, I told him my name and what a despicable person I looked like next to him. And with an uncontrollable urge, I stripped myself of everything and asked, “Would you clothe me? Make me new again!”

He took my rags of weaknesses and failures and shameful sinfulness and, in his own dying and rising, clothed me with a clean heart and mind, with grace and truth and love and forgiveness. It’s incredible, I am a wonder next to the Ragman, the Christ, Our Risen Lord and Savior.

Suggestion for Prayer and Reflection
Take a quiet moment and let the Holy Spirit show you the rags you offer to Jesus as he comes by you, crying out, “Give me your rags and I’ll give you mine!”

What changes in you as you put on the rags of Jesus?

Peace and Happy Easter.

Love Your Neighbor!

Fr. Rick Pilger, IC

www.bscchurch.com
www.rosminians.com

Paraphrased from a story by Walter Waningerin, Jr.
The Ragman” from Ragman and Other Cries of Faith,  
Harper and Row, Publishers, San Francisco, CA, 1984).