Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord (B)

 

May 16, 2021                                                                    

Readings:

First Reading: Acts of the Apostles 1: 1-11

Psalm 47: “God mounts his throne to shouts of joy; a blare of trumpets for the Lord.”

Second Reading: Ephesians 1: 17-23

Gospel reading according to Mark 16: 15-20

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Homily: 

Jesus called his disciples to Galilee to meet them for the last time while he was still on earth. He instructed them to go to the whole world and to proclaim the Gospel to all peoples.   “Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.  Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned’.” (Mark 16: 15-16).  He presented himself alive to them by many proofs after he had suffered, appearing to them for forty days and speaking about the Kingdom of God.  While meeting with them, he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for “the promised of the Father about which you have heard me speak; for John baptized with water, but in a few days, you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 1:3-5).  While Jesus was still them, he accompanied his disciples in their confusion and doubt until everything was clear to them.  He did not allow them to go anywhere but to remain in Jerusalem and wait for the coming Holy Spirit before they can preach anywhere.  Whoever accepted the gospel and was baptized will be saved, and whoever does not accept the good news is condemned.

Those who believe in the name of Jesus and his gospel, will be accompanied with signs and wonders for “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes to you.” (Acts 16: 8).  “These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. They will pick serpents in their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them.  They will lay hands on the ick, and they will recover” (Mark 16: 17-18).  Those who believe will have the power over Satan and his demons, it becomes easy to communicate in foreign languages, even dangerous serpent can easily catch by your hand, when somebody poisoned you, when you drink it it will not hard you, and when you lay your hands to a sick person, he or she will be cured and recovered.  When you are in God, nothing is impossible, all is possible if you have faith; if you believe in God.

Jesus said, “you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  “So, then the Lord Jesus after he spoke to them was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God” (Mark 16: 19).  “When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him in their sight” (Acts 16: 9).  After speaking with his disciples, Jesus ascended into heaven and now is seated at the right hand of the Father.  The two angels dressed in white said to them, while still looking up to heaven, “This Jesus who has taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven” (Acts.

Full of faith, hope, confidence and trust in the power of the Holy Spirit, the disciples spread starting from Jerusalem, all over Judea in the North and Samaria to the South, and to the rest of the earth, with enthusiasm, interest, and love to proclaim the words of Jesus Christ to everyone.  “But they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs” (Mark 16: 20).  Jesus who left his disciples still remains with them in the Holy Spirit and God the Father, thus the words and works of the disciples have power.

Sixth Sunday of Easter (B)

 

May 9, 2021                                                                    

Readings:

First Reading: Acts of the Apostles 10: 25-26, 34-35, 44-48

Psalm 98: “The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.”

Second Reading: 1 John 4: 7-10

Gospel reading according to John 15: 9-17

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Homily: 

God the Father loves first.  He loves all he created, seen and unseen, living and unliving things, plants and animals, fish and birds, men and women.  Despite the men and women disobeying him, He still loved them by sending prophets, leaders and kings to remind them to return to him in his love.  Until such time He sent his only begotten Son, whom He loved first.  “Jesus said to his disciples, ‘As the Father loves me, so I love you’.” (John 15: 9).  The Father loves the Son, and the Son loves the Father; and so also the Son, Jesus, loves his disciples whom the Father entrusted to him since time immemorial.  God the Father loves Jesus and He showed how to love others, even the unlovable, the sinners and those who live in darkness.  Also, Jesus taught and showed his disciples the love of the Father and the Son to creatures: by his passion, crucifixion, death and resurrection. 

Jesus wanted us his disciples to stick to him, to not leave him nor abandon him even the hardships in life. It is true that when we follow him, we will also experience his sufferings, passion, crucifixion, death, but on the third day we will rise again like him.  So, Jesus instructed his disciples to remain in him, in his love. ”’Remain in my love.  If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just I have kept my Father’s commandments and I remain in his love’.” (John 15: 10).  We remain in him and in his love when we keep and do his commandments.  By keeping and doing his commandments we are prompted to remain in his love, as he kept his Father’s commandments so he remained in his Father’s love which he wanted us to do and keep.   He said this to us that when we hear his commandments, we will be joyful for this is his intention, our joy; for it is his joy to see us joyful and his joy might be completed through us.   “’I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy might be complete.  This is my commandment: love one another as I love you’.” (John 15: 11-12).  He also gives us new commandment: that we, his disciples love one another as he loves us to the end.

True love is not only emotional or physical or spiritual attraction.  True love is our willingness to offer our lives to one’s friends without reservation or choosing.   Like what Jesus did for us, he offered his own self not only to good people, obedient men and women, his chosen ones but even to sinners, those unlovable, and those who did not believe in him in the beginning.  “’No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.  You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what the master is doing.  I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father’.” (John 15: 13-15).  He called us friends.  As friends, he laid down his life for us.  He called us friends no more slaves, because a slave does not know what the master is doing.  He called us friends because he reveals to us everything that the Father had told him and heard from Him.

We sometimes thought that we were the ones who choose or not Jesus in our lives.  But the reality is that he was the first one who called us to himself, so that we may have life abundantly and our joy may be complete.  “’It is not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you’.” (John 15: 16).  He chose us to join in his ministry and he appointed us to go throughout the whole world to proclaim the Kingdom of God to all, so that others too may bear fruit and remain steadfast in his commandments of love.  And with that God the Father will appreciate us and whatever we ask from Him in Jesus’ name He will grant it.  So, this is what we proclaim to all peoples of the world, “’This I command you: love one another’.” (John 15: 17).  There is no greater gift we can receive from the Lord Jesus Christ except his love for us and to one another.

Fifth Sunday of Easter (B)

 

May 2, 2021                                                              

Readings:

First Reading: Acts of the Apostles 9: 26-31

Psalm 22: “I will praise you, Lorde, in the assembly of your people.”

Second Reading: 1 John 3: 18-24

Gospel reading according to John 15: 1-8

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Homily: 

Last Sunday, (Fourth Sunday of Easter, April 25), Jesus presented himself as Good Shepherd.  This Sunday, Jesus is now presenting himself as “true vine,” while God his Father is the “vine grower,” while we are the “branches” that cling to the vine, to Jesus Christ.  We have all relationships with the Son and the Father [with the Holy Spirit].  He taught his disciples of another reality or persona of God the Father and of himself.  He is the true vine and the Father is the vine grower.   “Jesus said to his disciples, ‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.  He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit’.” (John 15: 1-2).  We, Jesus’ disciples, he called us branches, are in relation with the vine.  We are attached to him, so we bear much fruit.  But not all branches are attached to the vine, therefore they do not produce fruit.  In order to produce more fruit, the Father cut the branches off in every vine, especially those branches that do not bear fruit, and those branches that bear fruit God prunes them so that they bear much fruit.  The vine grower, God the Father, cuts off the branch that does not produce fruit, meaning if we are like driftwood which no longer produces fruit of good works we are just like waste, trash and useless branches that need to be taken away from the vine.  When we are pruned, we become humble, for we allow others to grow.

Through Jesus’ words of the Father, we are already cleansed the moment we receive his word of life.  If we listened and acted upon what Jesus said to us we are already cleansed, pruned. “’You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you’.” (John 15: 3).  Because of the word spoken to us by Jesus we are trimmed from our sinful inclinations and deafness, instead we are led to goodness and truth.  The word of Jesus gives life and grace. His words made us clean, for it purified our mind, soul and body.  His words made us clean, for his word is Spirit and life.

Jesus, our true vine, is always with us.  He also wanted us to be with him.  The best way to become truthful followers is to continue attaching ourselves to the true vine, Jesus Christ, as he promised, “’Remain in me, as I remain in you.  Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me’.” (John 15: 4).  Like the branches of grapes, they cannot produce fruit if they are detached from the vine.  But if the branches are attached or clinging to the vine, there is a possibility that they bear fruit, and when they prune much fruit they will produce. Every achievement we have is useless if it is apart from him. Sometimes, our lives are experiencing many problems, troubles, etc., as if there is heavy rain or typhoons that devastated us, the vineyard; it is natural that the branches are broken and detached to the vine and flown away when natural disasters come in.  Despite heavy rain and/or typhoons (problems and trials of life), by the true vine it wanted the branch to remain on the vine.  

This is the truth that Jesus was teaching to his disciples, “’I am the vine, you are the branches.  Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing’.” (John 15: 5).  Jesus is the vine in our lives, and we are the branches dependent to him.  Without Jesus in our lives, we cannot do anything. We cannot do much according to our own capacity, but with Jesus, nothing is impossible.

Jesus explained to his disciples the importance of lingering in him and those who detach from him.  “’Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned.  If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you’.” (John 15: 6-7).  As branches in the vine, we must remain attached to it, otherwise we wither and die and throw away fitted for firewood in the furnace.  Our relationship with God and to Jesus depends upon our loyalty and faithfulness to them.  And this is the fruit of being attached with the vine.  “’By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples’.” (John 15: 8).  The Father is glorified because we bear much fruit and we are true disciples of Jesus Christ, the true vine.

Fourth Sunday of Easter (B)

 

Good Shepherd Sunday/World Day of Prayer for Vocations

April 25, 2021                                                                  

Readings:

First Reading: Acts of the Apostles 4: 8-12

Psalm 118: “The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.”

Second Reading: 1 John 3: 1-2

Gospel reading according to John 10: 11-18

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Homily: 

Today is Good Shepherd Sunday and World Day of Prayer for Vocations.  Let us pray for more vocations so that many will serve in the sheepfold of our Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ!

In the gospel for today, it tackles about the good shepherd.  A good leader is like a good shepherd.  As a leader, he guides and leads his/her subordinates to the direction of their objectives, aims and goals.  He knows each one of his members.  He knows how to encourage to work, act and participate with its members to achieve their plan.  And when a problem arises, he consults each member collectively, they solve their problem together.  He/she does not claim on its own the achievements of their projects but rather he shares their successes.  The father of a good family is also like a good shepherd who provides the needs of his wife and children.  He protects them from harm and danger.  He sees to it that there is food on their table, savings in case of emergency (sickness), he is the pillar of the house who stands strong in different problems that come to his family.  And there are many other good leaders we can mention.  These two examples suffice.   In the gospel, “Jesus said, ‘I am the good shepherd.  A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.  A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf catches and scatters them.  This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep’.” (John 10: 11-13).  No one claims or says that he or she is the Good Shepherd except Jesus.  As a good shepherd, Jesus brings the sheep to the green pasture after calling one by one the name of his sheep.  He walks ahead of his sheep and looks for safety and greener pasture where his sheep can eat, play and roam around within the vicinity/limits of the pastural land they are in.  He looks and guards for the safety of his sheep against wild beasts and animals (especially wolves).  And he is ready to defend his sheep when they are attacked by wild animals, and even to lay down his life for his sheep.  Jesus gave another kind of shepherd, a hired man but not truly a shepherd, he works for money and without care for the sheep because he does not own them.  He just brings the sheep in the pasture land and let them eat alone, roam around and play, and when wolves or other wild animals come, he is the first one to run for his life and leaves the sheep at the mercy of these wild beasts.  He does not protect or defend or offer his life for the sheep against the wild animals.  The reason is, he just works for money received from the owner of the sheep.    

Jesus is the Good Shepherd, for he knows his sheep and his sheep know him.  They listen to his voice because it is familiar to them.  If a stranger is calling on them, they disperse and run away.  They do not listen to the voice of the stranger.  Jesus also knows each one of them.  He calls their names and they respond.  “’I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep’.”  (John 10: 14-15).  Like the sheep who know their shepherd, God the Father knows very well Jesus Christ, his Son.  And Jesus knows his Father whom he loves and obeyed to the will of his Father, that is, to lay down his life for the sheep.

Jesus also is aware that there are other sheep who are not yet in his flock.  He wanted to find them and bring them also to his sheepfold.  “’I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold.  These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd’.” (John 10: 16).  Maybe we can consider these other sheep as those who do not know Jesus and God the Father.  Maybe they belong to other religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, Shintoism, Islam and other pagan religions.  Maybe they were raised as atheists who do not know God but they do good to others.  Jesus will guide them and after they hear his voice, like the voice of the shepherd, they will follow him and join in his flock.  So that there is only one shepherd and one flock.    

Jesus as a good shepherd is ready to lay down his life for the identified and unidentified sheep.  And because of this offering of his life to save others, God the Father loves him much.  “’This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again.  No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own.  I have the power to lay it down, and power to take it up again.  This command I have received from my Father’.” (John 10: 17-18). There is no other reason for the love of God to his Son rather his love for all his creatures that is why He is even ready to sacrifice his only begotten Son and the Son is very willing to suffer for the sake of all creatures.  Jesus can lay his life as a ransom for many and he can also take it up for he has the power to offer or to regain his life; no one can take his life away from him or return it back to him, except himself, for this is what the Father wants for him.

Third Sunday of Easter (B)

April 18, 2021                                                                    

Readings:

First Reading: Acts of the Apostles 3: 13-15, 17-19

Psalm 4: “Lord, let your face shine on us.”

Second Reading: 1 John 2: 1-5

Gospel reading according to Luke 24: 35-48

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Homily: 

Two of the disciples of Jesus, one of them named Cleophas from Emmaus, were returning to their home town as if nothing had happened in the past days, weeks, months and years following Jesus.  “Uwian na, wala namang nangyaring pagbabago.” As if they were saying, “Let us go back to our places, back to normal, anyway nothing happened, because our Teacher, Master and Leader Lord Jesus Christ died.  No liberation occurred through revolution supposedly to be led by Jesus.” When suddenly Jesus appeared to them and explained to them why Christ should suffer and died and on the third day rose from the dead.  At first, they did not recognize him because of the rays of the setting sun; but when they invited him to stay with one of them in his house, at table he said the blessing, broke the bread, and gave it to them.  And their eyes were opened but Jesus was no longer there, and they hurriedly returned to Jerusalem to tell what had happened along the way and on the table, they recognized him in the breaking of the bread.  The two disciples explained to the other disciples and Apostles at the upper room what Jesus said and did at Emmaus.  “The two disciples recounted what had taken place on the way, and how Jesus was made known to them in the breaking of the bread” (John 24: 35).  They explained to them in detail what had taken place along the way, the explanation of the whole Scriptures about the suffering Messiah, the slaughtering of the sacrificial lamb, that led the death of Jesus, the Son of God, the Christ but on the third day he rose again, and they were the witnesses of his resurrection. 

Still they were telling the affairs that had happened to them when suddenly Jesus appeared in their midst.   “While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’  But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost” (John 24: 36-37).  Jesus said with his resurrection greetings, “Peace be with you.”  But the disciples were frightened and scared as if they saw a ghost.  Like what had happened at Mount Tabor when Jesus transfigured with shining exceeding white as snow (Matthew 17:1-13; Luke 9:28-36) and his whole body was radiantly light or as he walked in the sea where the disciples as if they saw a ghost (Matthew 14: 25-26).

Even Jesus was perplexed with the reactions of the disciples.  They still could not believe or slow to believe in Jesus’ resurrection despite him already being himself for the third time alive.  “Then he said to them, ‘Why are you troubled?  And why do questions arise in your heart?  Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself.  Touch and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.’  And as he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet” (John 24: 38-40). Jesus asked them questions for they were troubled and disbelieving as if he was a ghost.  So, he invited them to look at his hands and feet [and side].  He was allowing them to touch and see his wounds, that he has flesh and bones as compared with ghosts, like a spirit or air or wind without a material body.  “While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed, he asked them, ‘Have you anything here to eat?’  They gave a him a piece of baked fish; he took it and ate it in front of them” (John 24: 41-43).  To show also that he has flesh and bones, he asked them something to eat to prove that he was not a ghost. And they gave him a piece of baked fish, and in their presence, he ate it.

Then he explained the Scriptures to them, everything relating to the suffering Messiah, from the Books of Moses (the Torah), the Prophets, and the Psalms.  It must be fulfilled. “He said to them, ‘These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled.’  Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.  And he said to them, ‘Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.  You are witnesses of these things’.”  (John 24: 44-48).  Each one of them, he opened his/her mind to understand and learn Scripture better.  The Scripture was written to know, act and love Christ who would suffer and on the third day will rise again; in it also the calling for repentance, the forgiveness of sins, and an invitation to preach it (the Scripture) to all nations beginning from Jerusalem.  Jesus made his disciples who understood and loved the Scripture as his witnesses throughout the world. We too, as his disciples and followers, are taught about the Scripture.  We have to love it, act upon it and share it with others, then we are truly witnessing the risen Jesus Christ.

Second Sunday of Easter (B)

 

April 11, 2021                                                                    

Readings:

First Reading: Acts of the Apostles 4: 32-35

Psalm 118 “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, his love is everlasting.”

Second Reading: 1 John 5 1-6

Gospel reading according to John 20: 19-31

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Homily: 

On the same day, on the first day of the week, where Jesus resurrected early in the morning, while it was still dark; on that same day of the first day of the week also, on the evening, Jesus appeared to his disciples still hiding from the Jews for their lives.  For them, it was still dark/evening, as if they did not hear the good news that Jesus was resurrected from Mary Magdalene, Simon Peter and John, and women companions, that early morning.  Still the disciples were in the dark of the night and did not yet recognize the light brought by the resurrection of Jesus.   “On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, ‘Peace be with you,’ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side” (John 20: 19-20)  On that evening, Jesus appeared and stood in their midst, and to guarantee that he had no grudges against them, that it was ok now, he greeted them with the sign of peace, “Peace be with you.”  It means he has forgiven them for their lack of faith and unbelief to what he said on the rising of the dead.  “Peace be with you” means, they were still his disciples for he loved them.  There was nothing to worry about, he has forgiven them and accepted their weaknesses.  To prove his resurrection, he showed to them his hands, side [and feet] marked with nails, the signs of his suffering, passion and death on the cross.

When the disciples saw the living Christ, naturally they rejoiced and delighted.  “The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord” (John 20: 20).  Some of them could not express their feelings, happiness and joy when they saw the risen Lord; some of them still could not believe that Jesus was alive and in front of them talking to them and giving peace and showing nail marks.  There were mixed emotions and fear, faith and disbelief among the disciples about the resurrection of Jesus, who was present in their midst.  There were some disciples whose eyes were prevented from recognizing him, and some of them were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost.

So Jesus, to guarantee his disciples that he was he, he said again for the second time his greetings of peace.  “Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you.  As the Father has sent me, so I send you’.” (John 20: 21).  After saying, “Peace be with you,” he commissioned and sent his disciples to spread “Peace” and the good news of the resurrection from the dead throughout the whole world.  That there is nothing to worry about for he conquered sin and death, that they are now free and liberated from the chains of slavery of sin and of the devil.  That the light is now shining upon the earth due to his resurrection.

To help the disciples spread the good news with courage and confidence, without fear, he gave them a lasting companion, the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit. “And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.  Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained’.” (John 20: 22-23).  He breathed on them the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of courage and strength, the Spirit of life and truth, and the Spirit of love to God and one’s neighbor.  He added that whoever they forgive are forgiven and whoever they retain their sins are not forgiven and remain to them their sins. 

Because of the fear of the Jews, the disciples and Apostle were separated in their hiding place.  It so happened that Thomas was separated from the group.  Maybe he did it intentionally to be in a different hiding place or he did not listen to the instruction of Simon Peter, their leader, or he lost his trail, the way to the upper room.  “Thomas, called Didymus, one the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.  So the other disciples said to him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’  But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe’.” (John 20: 24-25). Thus, during the first appearance of Jesus, Thomas was not with them there in the upper room.  But with the other disciples with the courage to go out, they found Thomas and told him what had happened on the first day of the first week after the Passover.  But instead to be happy and rejoice of the news he had heard, he challenged the other disciples to produce Jesus (the risen Lord), with all the marks of the nails, and the wounds in his hands and side [and feet].  Unless he sees by his own eyes all the marks and wounds, he does not believe them.   

After the first week when Jesus appeared to his disciple; and in the second week, still the disciples were hiding but this time Thomas was with them in the upper room, when suddenly Jesus appeared and showed himself again to them.  “Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them, Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, ‘Peace be with you.’  Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.’  Thomas answered and said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen me and have believed’.” (John 20: 26-29).  The doors were locked but still Jesus was able to appear in the midst of his disciples who were still in the dark hiding for fear of their lives.  For the third time, Jesus said to them, “Peace be with you,” as if Jesus was bringing light to the darkness covering the disciples.  He was saying to them the darkness had passed and the light shines forth in the night of their lives.  Also, it so happened that Thomas was with them.  So Jesus called the attention of Thomas who until now had disbelief at what he saw, that Jesus was here in their presence alive.  Jesus said to him to look at his hands and see the nail marks, put his finger on them and bring his hand and put it on his side.  He convinced him not to be unbelieving but to believe.  He said also to Thomas, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen me and have believed.”  We are blessed for we did not see Jesus but we believe in him.

To conclude his gospel, John said that many other things Jesus performed in the sight of his disciples that are not written.  “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book.  But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through this you may have life in his name” (John 20: 30-31).  But those signs and wonders that Jesus had made were remembered and written so that those who read and will read his gospel may believe in Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of the living God, and to have life eternal.  Amen.

Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord (ABC)

 

April 4, 2021                                                                    

Readings:

First Reading: Acts of the Apostles 10: 34a, 37-43

Psalm 118 “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.”

Second Reading: Colossians 3: 1-4

Gospel reading according to John 20: 1-9

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Homily: 

Alleluia!  Alleluia! The Lord is risen from the tomb.  Alleluia! Alleluia!

Mary of Magdala’s love for her Master and Lord Jesus Christ was beyond telling.  She could not leave Jesus on the tomb with uncompleted embalming or pouring of perfume/alabaster oil.  She really wanted a clean body of Jesus.  But she was not alone when she went in the tomb; she was not also alone in this thinking and planning of cleaning the dead body of Jesus, even her companions wanted to do this.  Then, after the Passover Feast, very early in the morning, still dark, on the very first day of the week, Mary and companions came to the tomb of Jesus.  “On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb” (John 20: 1).  “While it was still dark,” has a deep meaning and significant connotation.  The world was still covered with darkness, of sinfulness and indifferences.  Darkness belongs to the devil, to Satan and his cohorts.  Darkness is ruled by the evil one, while light is ruled by the good One.  The evil thought is still widespread in the dark world.  But the light had conquered the darkness of the evil world.  The dark world had seen the light of the new day.  The dawning of another day has come to light.  There is now a new hope, a new life, a new perspective and a new attitude in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.   As Mary and companions went to the tomb, she was full of enthusiasm, of love and confidence that nothing happened to her beloved Jesus, but nevertheless she and her companions did not expect what they had discovered and saw, a stone cover rolled open up from the tomb.   The tomb was opened.

She had already a conclusion, her instinct told her that her Master and Lord had been taken away by someone, who was very interested to the dead body of Jesus.  She thought that Jesus’ body was stolen and hid somewhere else, without coming closer and looked inside the tomb, and to see whether Jesus’ body was still there or not.  And she decided to inform Simon Peter, the known leader of the disciples and Apostles, and it also happened that John, whom Jesus loved, was there also, and so she too informed him.  Her companions might have remained in the tomb watching and waiting for the coming of the Apostles with Mary, for only Mary at that moment became apostle to the Apostles, in bringing and announcing the news.  “So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, ‘They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him’.” (John 20: 2).  Mary announced to Simon Peter and John the empty tomb and that someone took the dead body of Jesus and hid it in another place or cemetery or tomb, so that nobody can find it and retrieve it.

That early morning, still dark, while the disciples and Apostles were hiding from the Temple’s leaders and authorities due to fear for their lives, and some were still sleeping, Simon Peter and John with Mary ran to the tomb to see whether Mary’s report was true or not.  They lost their fear, the darkness of their hearts was enlightened by their love to their Master and Teacher.  They conquered their fear and replaced it with courage and strength, and enthusiasm and interest on the news, on the good news – of an empty tomb!  “So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb.  They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in” (John 20: 3-5).  Simon Peter and John, as if on the race, ran fast, maybe to avoid seeing or encountering the Roman and the temple soldiers roaming around that night.  Since Simon Peter was a little bit old and John was still young, John ran faster than Peter, and first reached the tomb.  He just peeped in to see the inside of the tomb but did not enter into it.  He waited for the coming of Simon Peter, their recognized leader. 

Simon, at last reached the tomb.  Immediately, he entered into the tomb and saw the burial cloths and the cloths that covered the head of Jesus, though it was separated from the burial cloths.  “When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place” (John 20: 6-7).  Only the burial cloths and the covering of the head of Jesus Simon Peter were found but not of the body, for it was resurrected and transformed into a new body different from our own body.

John who came first in the tomb but did not yet enter into it, had now a chance to witness the wonderful event in his life.  “Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believe” (John 20: 8).  He entered the tomb and saw very clearly the success of what Jesus told them before, his rising from the dead – the resurrection.  John saw, witnessed and believed.

Before the resurrection, they did not understand the Scripture passage of the suffering Messiah, the sacrificial Lamb of God, and the Son of God for they did not yet experience the resurrection of the dead into life.  “For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead” (John 20: 9).  Now it is clear to them what the Scripture was telling about the rising from the dead when Jesus set as an example for all who believe in him when he experienced his own passion, crucifixion, death, and his triumph over death by resurrection, and glorification.  Amen.

Alleluia!  Alleluia! The Lord is risen from the tomb.  Alleluia! Alleluia!