Participating in the Greatest Event in History

Today we begin to celebrate the greatest event in human history: the resurrection of Jesus our Lord. We begin the season of Easter which extends for fifty days. The mystery of the resurrection is so profound that we need at least fifty days to ponder it, to celebrate it, and to appropriate it into our lives. Since this season is just beginning, the Church does not give us all the information on this first day. We only hear the beginning of the story: the discovery of the empty tomb.

We are invited to linger today with Mary of Magdala, Simon Peter and John the Beloved as they ponder the tomb—empty of his body but filled with some intriguing signs. The burial cloths are still there, and the cloth that had covered the face of Jesus is rolled up in a separate place (John 20: 6-7). St. Luke tells us the tomb is even less empty when the women arrive. They encounter “two men in dazzling garments”(angels) who tell them “He is not here, but he has been raised” (24: 4-5). Startled with dismay and joy, they returned to tell this news to the apostles, only to be doubly dismayed by their response. Luke tells us that “their story seemed like nonsense” to the apostles, “and they did not believe them” (24: 11).  

Hmmm. Would you have believed them? (The story seemed so nonsensical to the apostles that it is unlikely that they would have made it up.) For us the stories of his resurrection appearances will unfold in the coming days. But let’s take today to linger with the evidence so far: The body of Jesus is missing from the tomb and no one know of its whereabouts; and the burial clothes were left in the tomb. If someone had stolen his body, it would make no sense for them to unwrap the bloody corpse and leave the burial cloths behind. And the angels in the tomb said, “He has been raised.” If that was all you knew, could you believe it?

In a certain sense, we are all in a similar situation. We have heard the stories of the resurrection, but we have not seen his risen glorified body. We are challenged to believe the stories of those who saw him, stories which have been passed on for two thousand years. Does the story sometimes seem to you like nonsense?

Well, if that story seems like nonsense, what other explanation is more sensical? Why would eleven apostles accept martyrdom rather than deny the truth of their experience of the Risen Christ? Why would thousands of Christians accept martyrdom in the first three centuries of the Church because they chose to worship the risen Christ rather than the Roman Emperor? How could the worldly might of the Roman Empire be succeeded by a religious empire of humble Christians who practiced forgiveness, love of enemies, and non-violence. How could this religion enculturate into every country on Earth and prove to be the greatest threat to secular dictatorships? 

All of this makes sense because we are members of a religion that offers hope to humanity, hope beyond the grave. The Gospel of Jesus offers humanity hope and proof that there is an all-powerful loving God who loves every one of us—rich or poor, sinner or saint, healthy or sick, etc. He loves us so much that He became one of us, to teach us how to love, forgive, live and die with hope of a blessed future, when all will be made new including us. He promises to satisfy the deepest and purest desires of our hearts. 

But can you believe it? We’ve heard the stories of his resurrection, told by many who gave up their lives proclaiming it, followed by countless others who passed the Good News on to us. We see thousands living their faith in our own parish family. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, what other explanation makes sense? 

Yet there is one more bit of evidence which only you can discover. The Risen Lord is waiting to encounter you in your prayer. Give Him a chance to do so.  He is waiting to encounter you in the liturgy and sacraments of the Church. Come and see. You can encounter him in your loving service of others, and in their loving service of you. Because “God is love” (1 John 4:9, 16), and “love is stronger than death” (Song of Songs 8:6). 

So look at the evidence in your life and in our parish family.  Do you see any intriguing signs that lift you up with hope or love? Twenty-seven children and adults chose to be baptized at our Easter Vigil this year. Let’s join them in renewing our Baptismal faith in the Risen Lord Jesus. In doing so we participate in the greatest event in human history!