Easter Sunday
Acts 10:34a, 37-43
Ps. 118
Col. 3: 1-4
Jn 20:1-9
Acts 10:34a, 37-43
Ps. 118
Col. 3: 1-4
Jn 20:1-9
Thanks for being my Easter, my Resurrection
Beloved in Christ, this morning I woke up to a text message from one of my family members who has gone through so much pain and suffering in the past few years. Two years ago, she had done something that I was not happy about so I decided to ignore her calls and cut her off. I did not talk to her for a long time but one of the homilies I gave on forgiveness convicted me. So, last year, I decided to call and forgive her. It was when I called that she shared all the pains and sufferings she was going through. For the past year, I tried to call her often and pray with her and bring her some words of hope. This is the message she sent me today:
Thanks for the many times you have allowed Jesus to accompany me through you! Thanks for being my Easter, my Resurrection!!! Those moments were life for me. Have a Happy and Blessed Easter!!!
Beloved, one of the signs that Jesus left in the tomb as evidence of his Resurrection is the burial cloth and the cloth that had covered his head, nicely folded in a separate place in the tomb. Some biblical scholars have interpreted this within the context of a meal in Jewish culture at the time of Jesus. Normally at royal banquets, there was a way of using your napkin to indicate whether or not you were done with the food. If a guest left the table and folded the napkin beautifully, that meant he/she was not done yet. That guest was going to return to the table. So Jesus folding the cloth that has covered his head beautifully was a way of telling his disciples, I am not done; I have not abandoned you; I will return to you. Beloved, we believe and profess that Jesus will return at the end of time in his second coming; but Jesus also returns every day into our lives. He does that through our celebrations of the Eucharist and other sacraments. He returns in a unique way when we live out the love that we celebrate in the sacraments.
Many times, we underrate what God is doing for His people through the little love we show. Every little act of love is Christ’s way of returning into people’s lives, to walk with them, and transform circumstances that take their joy away. So anytime that you show love to your family, friends, co-workers, church community and indeed to any human being, you help wipe some tears away, you restore or increase their joy, and allow Jesus to accompany them through you. That is what I learned again though this text message I received today. That is what Easter means; that is what makes the resurrection of Christ come alive each day for people.
Our scriptural readings today mention two things that can prevent human beings from experiencing the joy of the resurrection. Our first and second readings remind us that sin can prevent us from experiencing the joy and the power of the resurrection so we have to help each other get rid of sin and strive to live a new life in Christ. We need to hold each other’s hand in our struggle to overcome sin. We should not abandon people because of their sins or weaknesses. Rather, like Jesus, we need to show more love when people struggle with sin so that we can allow Jesus to accompany them through us.
Our gospel reading tells us that the problems in our live can also prevent us from experiencing the joy of the resurrection. Yes, Jesus is risen but life was still dark for Mary Magdalene that Sunday morning when she went to the tomb. She did not feel the joy of the resurrection that morning when she went to the tomb because she was still focusing on the problems of her life, the death of her friend and savior. So her attitude towards the resurrection was not one of joy but of suspicion. She told Peter and John that somebody has stolen the body of Jesus. Perhaps you are like Mary Magdalene. Perhaps you are also overshadowed by the problems of your life. You are worried about school problems, family problems, broken relationships, broken dreams, sickness, lost of a dear one, or prayers that have not been answered. Perhaps, these problems are making you suspicious and doubtful about whether life will be better even after this resurrection.
I want to echo the words of Jesus to his disciples after the resurrection: Do not be afraid. Yes, beloved, do not be afraid to forgive those who have offended you, Do not be afraid to walk with people who struggle because of sin. Don’t let any problem or darkness in your life take your joy away. Do not be afraid to sing Alleluia. Jesus is not done! He will continue to return to us everyday! All the problems in our lives, everything is gonna be okay, Alleluia, Alleluia!!!!!
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