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!