“Alleluia. Christ is Risen! The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia.” This coming weekend, the climax of Holy Week, we celebrate with overflowing joy the resurrection of our Lord. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most life-transforming moment in history. God became man, lived, and died to free us from sin and bring all persons into harmony with Him. And He rose from the dead with a real body, one that His disciples could see, at least for a while.
In Sunday’s gospel (John 20:1-18), Mary Magdalene, in her passionate love for Jesus went to His tomb early in the morning, “while it was still dark.” To her amazement, the tombstone was removed, and Jesus was not in the tomb. She ran eagerly and told Peter and John the unbelievable news of Jesus’ missing body. They both hastened to the tomb and saw that what Mary had said was correct. Jesus’ disappearance was mysterious and confusing for the disciples. He would not have been removed by a grave robber for he would have taken away the costly linens that had wrapped Jesus’ body as well. The disciples returned home in sorrow.
Mary remained at the tomb and there she had a face-to-face encounter with the risen Lord in a real body! And He called her by name! She became so excited that she attempted to hold on to Him, to keep His presence with her. But Jesus warned her that although He appeared to her physically, His purpose needs to come to completion by His ascension “to my Father and your Father, My God, and your God.” Through His willingness to endure suffering and death, He will be exalted and will exalt believers into the family of God. He will remain visible but through the eyes of the spirit.
The disciples having left the tomb missed out on experiencing the first appearance of the Risen Jesus. Mary’s faithfulness led her to become the “apostle to the apostles.” Jesus sent her to proclaim the good news of His resurrection to the disciples. Mary Magdalene obeyed and excitedly proclaimed, “I have seen the Lord.” And by the sharing of the good news, their lives were transformed. Just as the tombstone of Jesus’ grave was mysteriously removed, the disciples’ stones of sorrow, confusion and fear, gave way to interior joy. Their faith in the resurrected Christ blossomed and they were empowered not simply to see Jesus physically, but to “see” Him spiritually through the “eyes” of the soul.
In today’s world, we have our own sorrows and confusion. We mourn the travesty of multiple mass shootings that take the life of innocent young children and adults. But the resurrection of Jesus gives us a new vision beyond this darkness. The brokenness and pain of the world will be transformed in God’s time, as more and more persons “see” Jesus and believe in His gospel of love and regard for the inherent dignity of all persons. Right now, because of Jesus’ resurrection, we can find joy and hope that transcends pain. We, like Mary, are commissioned to spread the good news; Jesus is alive and has conquered death and all evil! He reigns in unending love and offers us eternal life in which we are embraced and named children of God.
As we prepare to celebrate this victorious Easter weekend, may we like Mary eagerly seek the resurrected Christ so that the blinding tombstones in our lives may give way to inner vision and renewed life in the Spirit. Lord, we wish to see Jesus. Amen
