It is Paschal Sunday, celebrating Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ!
As both the Gospel Reading for Paschal Vigil Mass
(Mark 16:1-7, Cycle B) and Paschal Sunday Day Mass (John 20:1-9) describe, it
all started with witnessing nothing but the empty tomb. We say “Felicem Pascha!” , “Christus
resurrexit! Resurrexit vere!”. But, as far as these
Gospel narratives go, none of the disciples on the day of the Resurrection said
any of these. The only one to mention the resurrection was an angelus interpres, who is in the
appearance of a young man, speaking to the three women, Mary Magdalene, Mary,
the mother of James, and Salome, who came to the tomb to anoint the corpse of
Jesus, explaining that the body of Jesus was no longer in the tomb (Mark 16:6).
For Paschal Sunday Day Mass, we read from John’s
account on how the disciples began to know the Resurrection, and there was
nobody to explain why the tomb was empty (John 20:1-9).
At first, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and
realized the large heavy stone door to the tomb was moved, letting her to peek
into the empty tomb. It was early morning after the Sabbath, on the first day
of the week, meaning that it was early Sunday morning at around dawn. Imagine
what it would be like to see an open and empty tomb, when visiting to assure
that tomb was not tampered at all. Mary Magdalene could have been not just
puzzled but rather traumatized.
So, she ran to Peter and John, the oldest and the
youngest among the disciples and told them about what she witnessed – the empty
tomb. Then, these men raced to the tomb. What else could they do? They had to
go and see it for themselves, being reported about what should not happen and
could not happen.
John arrived the tomb before Peter. Perhaps, Peter
ran slower because of his age? Or, perhaps, he could not run as fast as John,
because his heart was heavier with guilt of denying Jesus three times. But,
Peter also arrived. John first saw Jesus’ burial cloths in the empty tomb
without entering in (John 20:5). On the other hand, Peter entered the empty
tomb and saw the burial cloths there, separated from the cloth that covered
Jesus’ head, rolled up (John 20:6-7). After Peter came out of the empty tomb,
John entered and believed (John 20:8).
Perhaps, what we are invited to do by this Johannine narrative on the Resurrection is to compare and contrast Peter and John in their response to the empty tomb.
So, which one believed the Resurrection without
witnessing risen Jesus?
John. But neither John nor Peter really understood
the scripture that refers that Jesus was to be raised from the dead (John
20:9).
What is the scriptural reference to the resurrection
that neither Peter nor John understood?
It can be Psalm 16:10-11, as well as, Isaiah
53:11-12, to say the least.
Regardless of their understanding of the scriptural reference to the
Resurrection of the Lord, they should have remembered that Jesus explicitly
said that he will be raised after his death, when he foretold of his death, as
early as Peter’s proclamation of Jesus as the Messiah in Caesarea Philippi
(Mark 8:31).
Perhaps, John remembered that Jesus really mentioned his resurrection and came
to believe, upon seeing what was left in the empty tomb.
In the evening of the Sunday after the Sunday of
their discovery of the empty tomb, Jesus tells Thomas, who doubted the
Resurrection, and did not believe until he touched the wound mark of risen
Christ’s body:
Have
you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not
seen and have believed (John 20:29).
Do you need to see and touch visible and tangible
evidence to believe? Or can you believe without such a thing?
So, this is a question to begin our Paschal Season,
which has 50 days, until Pentecost.
During Paschal Season to continue celebrating and
reflecting on the Resurrection, First Readings are taken from the Acts of the
Apostles for the most part.
Why?
During the Paschal Season, we also anticipate
Pentecost. And, Luke penned down the Acts of the Apostles to show how the
disciples were made into the apostles upon Pentecost. And, for us to have the Holy
Spirit poured out to be empowered to be sent out on our missions, Jesus had to
be glorified in his death on the Cross, in his Resurrection from the dead, and
in his Ascension. Unless this three-fold glorification of Jesus, we would not
have received the Holy Spirit on Pentecost (John 16:7).
The First Reading (Acts 10:34a, 37-43) on
Resurrection Sunday is drawn from Peter’s speech (Acts 10:34-43) at Cornelius’
house, and this contributed to Cornelius’ to be baptized. In fact, both Peter
and Cornelius had visions respectively prior to this strain of events,
suggesting that the paths of these men are to cross (Acts 10:1-33). And, these men
met as God had intended in Cornelius’ house.
Peter spoke about Jesus and how he had impacted him
and the rest of the apostles. In this speech, Peter mentioned that Jesus was
anointed with the Holy Spirit upon his Baptism in the Jordan (i.e. Matthew
3:16) and ministered as anointed as to fulfill what Isaiah prophesized about
the anointed (Isaiah 61:1-2), referring to Jesus’ first preaching in Galilee
(Luke 4:1) (Acts 10:38). Peter also mentioned the death and the resurrection of
Jesus (Acts 10:39-40) and explains that he and the rest of the apostles present
in Cornelius’ house were commissioned by risen Jesus, who was a real God-man,
visible, eating, and drinking (Acts 10:41-42). Then, Peter described Jesus as
the fulfillment of prophesies and the one to forgive our sins in concluding his
speech (Acts 10:43). In fact, this speech of Peter on Jesus contributed to the
baptism of the household of Cornelius (Acts 10:44-49).
Remember, as we come to terms with the Resurrection
deeply, we are to be ready to receive the Holy Spirit to become apostles like
Peter to go on our respective missions.
The first option for the Second Reading (Colossians
3:1-4) asks us if we have been truly risen with Christ from the dead, as we
really crucified our old sinful selves with him on the Cross, as a result of
our Lenten commitments. And we have reflected on this during Paschal Vigil Mass
through its Epistle Reading (Romans 6:3-11). Also Paul touches on this in
Galatians 2:19-20.
Christ has died for our sins. Now Christ has been
risen.
Have also died to our sins, crucified our old sinful
selves with Christ on the Cross? Or, are we still carrying out old sinful
selves over?
The second option for today’s Second Reading (I Corinthians
5:6b-8) warns us that what rises in us is remnant yeast of sin. And, this means
that we had wasted the precious blood of Jesus.
To truly celebrate this season of Paschal Mystery of
the Resurrection, we shall have removed yeast of sin, crucifying our old sinful
selves, dying to sin.
Remember, the Paschaltide is a season of renewal, as
well.
With our clean and renewed and joyful heart, let us
sing:
This
is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice in it and be glad (Psalm
118:24).
Deo
gratias!
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