Second Sunday of Easter (C)

Divine Mercy Sunday

April 28, 2019

Readings:

First Reading: Acts 5: 12-16

Psalm: 118

Second Reading: Revelation 1: 9-11a, 12-13, 17-19

Gospel reading according to John 20: 19-31

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Homily

A new day is dawned, a new hope, a new life, a new beginning brought by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.  But for those who are slow to believe they are still hiding, ("for fear of the Jews").  It is still evening (dark) for them.  They still were hiding in locked doors.  “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’.” (Jn. 20: 19). In the midst of fear and anxiety Jesus appeared to them.  Jesus wanted to assure them that he was no longer bounded, restricted and limited to space and time and place, he can even penetrate and pass through to lock doors and stand in their midst.  On that day, first day of the week of his resurrection, he appeared to his disciples by entering into locked doors in a house where they were still hiding, for fear of the Jews, “baka sila naman ang isunod;” they were thinking that they might be the next to follow to be arrested, executed, scourged and crucified, as what they did to their Master and Teacher.   But upon his appearance, Jesus greeted them with peace, “Peace be with you!,” which means do not be afraid, have courage, believe in him; He has already conquered death. “Peace be with you!,” as if he was saying to them, “I have forgiven you because I love you;” he has forgiven them in their weaknesses.  

To prove that he is truly raised from the dead he showed to them his wounds.  “When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.  The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord” (Jn. 20: 20).  He showed the marks of nails in his hands and feet, and his side pierced by soldier’s lance.  Jesus knew the mentality of the Jews, for he is also a Jew, “to see is to believe, to see signs;” you have to show evidence so that they might believe in you.  And he showed the proof and that was the only time the disciples recognized Jesus and accepted his resurrection and they rejoiced of what they had seen and witnessed.

Jesus, as a true leader, he wanted his disciples to show themselves outside that locked doors and go to the whole world to proclaim the good news, the love of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit to the whole world.  “Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you.  As the Father has sent me, so I send you’.” (Jn. 20: 21).  “Katulad niya,” as he was sent by God his Father in the world to proclaim the Reign-Kingdom of God, he also wanted his disciples to do the same.  They will bring his peace in the whole world as he said to them the second time, “Peace be with you.”  They will be sent to proclaim the peace of the risen Lord and Savior Jesus Christ..

As a true leader also, he cannot send his disciples empty handed, without any thing. To have a strength and courage to go to the whole world, he has given them the Holy Spirit, the breath of the Holy Spirit, by breathing them. “And when he said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’.” (Jn. 20: 22).  He shared with them his Spirit of truth, justice and right, love, and the goodness of God in them.  They were given authority to forgive sins.  “’Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained’.” (Jn. 20: 23). As his disciples, one of the characteristics that they are being sent by Jesus is to forgive sins against God and against their neighbors.  That is the first task to be shown by the disciples when they go out to where they are hiding to all the people they will meet even to the Jews they feared. 

One of the disciples was hiding somewhere.  He was not with the other disciples.  He was Thomas, the Twin.  “Thomas, called Didymus, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came” (Jn. 20: 24).  He was not present when Jesus appeared to the other disciples and some followers.  We do not know where he was hiding, and maybe he was only later informed about the appearance of Jesus when they saw him in his hiding place.

When he came to the place where the other disciples were hiding, a big news about the resurrection and appearance of Jesus was told to him.  “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’.” (Jn. 20: 25).  But because he did not witness the apparition of Jesus he cannot believe what they were saying to him.  He has no idea of how it happened for he too was not around when their Master and Teacher were tortured, carried the cross, crucified and died, after three days was resurrected from the dead.  He cannot believe also of what he does not see the sign.

This time, Thomas was with the other disciples and the rest of the followers.  “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’.” (Jn. 20: 26).  Jesus once again appeared to his disciples.  He came in despite of the doors were closed and locked and stood in their midst and again he gave them a greeting of peace. 

He came to Thomas, looked at him with love and understanding in his little faith.  “Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and see may hand, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be disbelieving but believe’.” (Jn. 20: 27).  Jesus allowed Thomas to touch with his finger the hand of him marked with nail as well as his opened side.  What a privilege chance and blessing to this wonderful providence, to touch the hands and feet and side of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Thomas full of awe, amazement and surprises was lost of what to say or do, except this deep faith and belief.  “Thomas answered and said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’.” ((Jn. 20: 28).  In the bottom of his heart he recognized his love and devotion to his Lord and his God.  He expressed his belief and faith to the risen Lord and God.

Jesus affirmed what Thomas uttered and without reservation of conviction, but he made more astonishing and beyond belief for those who did not see him, not seeing him yet, and have not seen him however they believed. “Jesus said to him, ‘Have you come to believe because you have seen me?  Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed’.” (Jn. 20: 29).  Even we who do not yet see him we believe in him and we believe that truly he resurrected from the dead he is alive and will live forever.

John’s conclusion of his gospel – the good news of the many signs and wonders Jesus has performed and done to his disciples while he was still alive here on earth, much more when he died and resurrected, and even more so beyond of his constantly new life in heaven and on earth.  “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 belief you may have life in his name” (Jn. 20: 30-31). According to John that the whole world cannot contain all the words, works, signs and wonders of Jesus.  He only selected a few among many other signs and wonders Jesus performed to his disciples and to his followers and for our sake that we might believe in him, worship him, and above all love him and by doing so we may belong to him.

Easter Sunday of the Lord’s Resurrection (ABC)

April 21, 2019

Readings:

First Reading: Acts 10: 34a, 37-43

Psalm: 118

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 5: 6b-8 (or Colossians 3: 1-4)

Gospel reading according to John 20: 1-9 (evening Mass: Luke 24: 13-35)

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Homily

As early as the day dawned, on that day after the solemn Sabbath Day, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb, with only sole purpose to see for the last time her beloved Teacher and Master (Rabbouni).   “On the first day of the week, Marry of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb” (Jn. 20: 1).  It was a Sunday, after a Sabbath (Saturday) when Mary of Magdala went to the tomb of Jesus.  It was still dark (dusk) and because there was no light in the street post, only the light of the moon was her guide.  Even in the dark with the light from the moon, Mary saw the stone which covered the tomb was removed, rolled out to expose the inside of it.  She did not know what to do or say.  She cannot believe what was she saw; so she decided to go back to the house where she and the rest of the apostles and other disciples were staying.

She went and talked to Simon Peter, the leader of the group, and to John, the beloved disciple, to inform them of what she saw at the tomb.  “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 do not know where they put him’.” (Jn. 20: 2).  Since she was confused and maybe believed what she heard from the chief priests, Pharisees and scribes spreading the (fake) new about snatching of the body of Jesus to be made by his disciples and to say that he resurrected from the dead, as he promised.  That’s why Mary said that somebody took the body of Jesus and hid it to show the news created by the chief priests and its cohorts was true.

Peter inspite he was also confused of what was going on aside from his sorrowful circumstances for denying his Lord and Master, was very excited to see for his own eyes and to confirm the news of an opened and empty tomb, as well as John the beloved disciple was interest to see and to witness.  “So Peter and other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both run, 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” (Jn. 20: 3-5).  They run so that no authority might see or recognize them. Also because they were hiding from the authorities but still they were moved by the news and by their enthusiasm, he and John went out and came at the tomb.  They run, and Peter was left behind by John because he was younger and stronger than he.  John came first at the tomb, but with respect to Peter as their leader he did not enter (hindi niya pinangunahan) but he bent down and saw the burial cloths, without the dead body covering by it.     

When Peter arrived at the tomb, he entered immediately in it and saw the burial cloths without the body of Jesus.  “When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place.  Then the other disciple went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and saw and believed” (Jn. 20: 6-8).  The burial cloths was properly arranged and folded up as well as the cloth that covered the head, though it was separated yet folded properly. The cloths were not just left behind, or threw out, and did not put it in a proper place, but rather it was meticulously arranged and folded.  After Peter entered the tomb that was the only time John also entered inside the tomb and saw for himself how the burial site empty but was properly set and arranged even the burial cloths as if it was not touched by the human hands.  Now, they believed to what Jesus had said when he was still with them, especially during the last supper about his passion, death and resurrection.   “For they did not yet understand the scripture that he had to rise from the dead” (Jn. 20: 9), but now they understood it and believed in it.  We have to experience the scripture in our lives in order to believe, and in order to believe in the scripture we have to judge its contents and so need to act in order to live out the scripture that teaches the life, passion and death, and the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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

Happy Easter Sunday!

Holy Saturday (Easter Vigil)

April 20, 2019

Readings:

First Reading:

Second Reading:

Third Reading: Exodus 14: 15 – 15: 1

Psalm: Exodus 15

Gospel reading according to Luke 24: 1-12

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Homily

Early in the morning dawn, after yesterday’s celebration of the most solemn Sabbath Day, the women from Galilee (Nazareth) – Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary Salome the mother of James and Joses, cannot wait to rise the sun up in the sky to go to the cemetery where Jesus’ body was laid to rest. Though they were not familiar to the place in Jerusalem, for these women who had come from Galilee, they saw the tomb and how the body was buried; so they knew where Jesus was buried for they also joined and accompanied those who brought the dead body of Jesus into the new tomb owned by Joseph of Arimathea which nobody yet buried, this Joseph was the one who asked Pontius Pilate to take the dead body of Jesus down on the cross to be buried of which Pontius Pilate issued the release of the dead body of Jesus.  They went back home to prepare spices and perfumes.  “At daybreak on the first day of the week the women who had come from Galilee with Jesus took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb” (Lk. 24: 1).  Although Nicodemus poured myrrh and aloes and in accordance with Jewish burial custom bound it up in wrappings of cloth with perfumed oil, these women prepared still the spices that will embalm the body of Jesus.  They were in a hurry and frantic to cleanse the body of Jesus full of blood.

When they arrived at the tomb, they saw the cover stone was rolled away and the inside of the tomb was exposed.  “They found the stone rolled away from the tomb; . . .” (Lk. 24: 2).  The more they became anxious and nervous.  They already suspected what they have felt at that very moment.  “. . . but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus” (Lk. 24: 3).  They were disbelieved when they came inside the tomb and saw nothing inside there; even the dead body of Jesus was gone.

They cannot believe that Jesus’ body was missing.  They were reflecting the meaning of it when suddenly two angels of the Lord appeared to them.  “While they were puzzling over this, behold, two men in dazzling garments appeared to them. They were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground” (Lk. 24: 4-5).  After seeing the angels they gave homage to them by bowing down their faces to the ground as a sign of reverence to the angels of the Lord even though they were frightened of this appearance.

The angels told them that Jesus is not with the dead but is alive, that Jesus is no longer held by the tomb and/or death, and that Jesus is risen from the dead.   “They said to them, ‘Why do you seek the living one among the dead?  He is not here, but he has been raised.  Remember what he said to you while he was still in Galilee that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners and be crucified, and rise on the third day.’ And they remembered his words” (Lk. 24: 6-8).  They were reminded of what Jesus said while he was still with them, of what will happen to him in the hands of the officials in the temple and sinners, be crucified and put to death, but on the third day he will rise again.  Now, he resurrected after three days as he has promised to his disciples and followers.   

Because of this great news they witnessed with their own eyes (the empty tomb) and what they heard from the two angels who appeared to them and announced the good news, they were happy to bring and to proclaim this good news to his disciples.  “Then they returned from the tomb and announced all these things to the eleven and to all the others” (Lk. 24: 9).  They returned to the place where the rest of the apostles and to the others were hiding the good news of what the angels told them about the resurrection of Jesus.  

The first witnesses of the empty tomb were women whose names were very popular.  Three women were mentioned, but the other women and maybe some men who would help them to roll the stone cover of the tomb were silent.  “The women were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James; the others who accompanied them also told this to the Apostles . . .” (Lk. 24: 10). Even those other women (and men) who accompanied the three Marys’ told the apostles of what they saw and heard and witnessed.

But the apostles were not interested to the news brought to them about the raising of Jesus from the dead, “nagte-tengang kawali lang sila,” maybe because the ones who brought the news were women, connoting gossip monger or fake news.  They did not mind the great news of all the good news.  “. . . but their story seemed like nonsense and they did not believe them.  But Peter got up and run to the tomb, bent down, and saw the burial cloth alone; then he went home amazed at what had happened” (Lk. 24: 11-12).  Except Peter, he came out from where he was hiding for he wanted to know the truth; he wanted to see by his own eyes what these women were telling to them, “to see is to believe,” as a saying goes.  So he went to the tomb where Jesus was laid down.  Even he was hiding due to shame of what he said and done to Jesus, when he denied him three times, he who was not present in the Golgotha where Jesus was crucified, and he who was not present when Jesus was laid in the tomb, with contrite heart and afflicted spirit he went to the tomb to see what really happened.  He saw and he believed and went back to where he was hiding amazed at what had happened, to what he saw and witnessed.

Friday of the Passion of the Lord

Good Friday

April 19, 2019

Readings:

First Reading: Isaiah 52: 13 – 53: 12

Psalm: 31

Second Reading: Hebrews 4: 14-16; 5: 7-9

Gospel reading according to John 18: 1 – 19: 42

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Homily

None among Jesus’ disciples were standing at the foot of the cross in Golgotha to show their love, support and concern of them to him, to be identified as his disciples, except John whom he loved.  Present there also were his mother Mary, Mary wife of Cleopas and Mary of Magdala.  Only the mother has the courage to be with her son in a horrendous (nakakakilabot) scene and some women who loved him.   “. . . Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary wife of Cleopas, and Mary of Magdala” (Jn. 18: 25).  Only Mary, his mother, and Mary wife of Cleopas and Mary Magdalene were there standing courageously at the foot of the cross where Jesus was crucified (nakabayubay sa krus) to show their love and sympathy.   They cannot abandon him in his dreadful and unbearable condition of dying.  As a mother, it is too hard for her to see her son tortured, underwent horrible punishments, put to death by crucifixion.  We can feel also in our present time the pain of a mother who lost her son by extra-judicial killing, as what the law enforcers said, he fought back, “nanlaban,” but the Supreme Court also defined extra-judicial killing, in 2008 ruling, as: “a killing committed without due process of law, that is, without legal safeguards or proceeding” (cf. Third Sunday of Lent (C), Homily, March 24, 2019).  Jesus never fought back, he only showed the truth and what is just, but he was put to death.

Jesus cannot leave his mother alone; she needs companion(s) who would take care of her in her old age. Mary was a widow and now she is losing a son, she is the poorest of all the poor, so Jesus entrusted his mother to the one he knows can love her and protect her and support her. “When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold your son.’  Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold your mother.’  And from that hour the disciple took her into his home” (Jn. 18: 26-27).  When Jesus saw his mother he consoled her and he saw also his beloved disciple, John, whom he can trusted his mother.  So he said to his mother with highest respect by calling her “woman.”  We can recall in the Book of Genesis when God said to the serpent (Satan), “I will put enmity between you and the woman . . .” (Gen. 3: 15). “Woman, behold your son.”  John who represents us all is entrusted to his mother, Mary.  “Behold your mother.” And Mary is entrusted to us through John to become our mother as well.  As true and beloved disciples of Jesus, from now on, Mary dwells in us and we live with her.  

He knows his last breath is running out, his death is at the threshold though he is now sure when he left everything was fulfilled according to the plan of God, he finished every detail of the things entrusted to him by his Father. “After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, ‘I thirst.’  There was a vessel filled with common wine.  So they put a sponge soaked in wine sprig of hyssop and put it up to his mouth” (Jn. 18: 28-29).  He fulfilled what the scripture promised and the last word before he died was: “I thirst,” not of physical or bodily thirst but spiritual thirst for he will miss what he loved.  “When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, ‘It is finished.’ And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit” (Jn. 18: 30).  After sipping the common wine he breathes his last and he died, he handed over his spirit to God his Father. (We kneel and bow at this moment for a few minutes.)

It so happened that they have to prepare for tomorrow’s solemn Feast of Sabbath and this was very special Sabbath Day of the Lord.  Yet still Jesus and those crucified with him were still on the cross hanging.  They should be taken down dead if not their legs should be broken for easy death yet very agonizing death, and the Jews did not want them to remain there watching the death of the three “criminals.”  “Now since it was preparation day, in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the Sabbath, for the Sabbath day of that week was a solemn one, the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken and they be taken down” (Jn. 18: 31).  The Jews went to Pontius Pilate to give them permission to break the legs of those crucified men at Golgotha, which Pilate allowed.

He sent soldiers in the Mountain of Skull to break the legs of Jesus, Gestas and Dismas.  “So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus” (Jn. 18: 32).  They came first to the two thieves and broke their legs for they were still alive.  Only those who are still alive will be hitting and breaking the legs for them to die.

They have to break also the legs of Jesus, the King of the Jews (as it was written in the board on the top of the cross), the Messiah or Christ (the Anointed One), the Son of God.  “But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out” (Jn. 18: 33-34).  But when they came nearer to Jesus they realized that he was already dead, so there is no need to break his legs to hasten his death for he was already dead.  But to be sure, one of the soldiers named Longinus used his lance and pierced the heart of Jesus were blood and water flowed out freely.  What is the significance of not breaking any bone of Jesus? The prophecy of the Old Testament is still happening to Jesus.  “No bones to be broken,” like the Paschal Lamb (see Exodus 12: 46) "It is to be eaten in a single house; you are not to bring forth any of the flesh outside of the house, nor are you to break any bone of it;” and (Psalm 34: 20) “He keeps all his bones, not one of them is broken.”  And this happened to Jesus, no single bone was broken, like a paschal lamb.  Nevertheless, Longinus, the Roman soldier, thrust a lance a spire on the chest of Jesus, near his heart and suddenly blood and water were abundantly and freely flowed out in his body.  This signifies the Eucharist – the body and blood mingled with water to commemorate the death of our Lord Jesus Christ when he offered himself as a Sacrificial Lamb of the Lord God for our salvation and the love of us of God our loving and merciful Father.