EASTER SUNDAY, YR B
Acts 10:34a,37-43; Ps 118
Col. 3:1-4; Jn 20:1-9
THE EMPTY TOMB:A GAME CHANGER
Alleluia!!! Praise the Lord! The Lord is risen! This is what everything is about. This is the day we have been waiting for. Our 40 day Lenten observance has all been for this day. This is what the whole of the liturgical year is about; The resurrection. Everything moves towards this great news of the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Today we are blessed with an account of the resurrection from John 20:1-9.
Mary Magdalene goes to the tomb and finds that the stone has been moved from the tomb. She goes to tell the disciples; Peter and John run to the tomb to witness the evidence of the resurrection: the empty tomb.
The resurrection is victory over death. Death is the only thing that seems to drive fear into man. No matter who you are, death will win. That is why many people fear death and many cultures have taboos about death.
Death ends life. However, we do not have to be afraid of death any longer because Jesus has overcome death and has set us free. This means that no one (no pastor, soothsayer or fetish priest) can threaten us with death anymore. And we will not refrain from doing what is right and just, because we are not afraid of death. Jesus has won life for us. He is the resurrection.
The tomb is a sign of death. Death is a reality. It is the negation of life.
As you read this piece, your life may been negated in many aspects. It may be your family, your work or your spiritual life and sometimes you feel helpless and betrayed. You feel that you have been sealed in your tomb. But take heart! Jesus has won victory! May the resurrection of the Lord remove the stone from the tomb in your life. May life be restored to you.
Jesus’ journey to the cross was because of the betrayal of one of his closest friends and the hatred and bitterness of the Jewish leaders towards him. These, amongst others were part of the painful cry on the cross and finally death of our Lord. But he embraced it for love of you and me.
For a moment it looked as if betrayal, hatred and bitterness had succeeded. If this was the case, the world would be justified to thrive on these vices. If the Lords passion had ended at the cross, evil would have succeeded. But there is resurrection. Jesus rose from the dead and he has given us victory.
In the same way Jesus rose from the dead, we too will rise above every betrayal we ever have experienced; every bitterness and hatred we have suffered will not have lasting effects on our lives. The power and force of the resurrection will give us freedom and life. In spite of all that we are going through, we will rise again in glory.
The empty tomb marks a new beginning for the disciples. They did not have to depend on scripture to believe or accept the resurrection. The evidence was right before their very eyes. Their moment of disenchantment was turned into one of joy and a certain newness albeit uncertain. Paul says, “if the resurrection did not happen then our faith would have been in vain but thank God it happened.” (1Cor. 15:14).
In his letter to the Colossians, he told them that if they have been raised with Christ, they must set their hearts on the things that are above. This is the game changer for the disciples of Jesus. The resurrection should cause us to want to reshape our life and also to rethink our priorities. No longer are the things of this world important but the things in heaven.
A new culture is now born in the follower of Jesus. He or she is no longer driven by the charms and lure of this world but by the power of the resurrection.
St Augustine in one of his sermons says, “the resurrection of the Lord is our hope”. What does this mean? No matter how dark your life becomes, there is hope for you. Throughout this year, when you go through difficulties, be encouraged by the resurrection. St John Paul II says “”Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are an Easter people and hallelujah is our song.” Keep the resurrection always before your eyes. Remember the chorus of this song, “I can face tomorrow”:
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, all fear is gone
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living, just because He lives.
Pope Benedict XVI says, “the resurrection of Christ is not a fruit of speculation or mystical experience; it is an event in which, while it surpasses history nevertheless happens at a precise moment in history and leaves an indelible mark on it”.
Through Jesus’ resurrection, life has changed. Let us live our lives as victorious people. Let us not live as people cast down. Get up! Raise your head! Be confident and be filled with the power of the resurrection.
God bless you.
By Fr. Delight Arnold Carbonu
