Readings: Acts 10:34, 37-43. Colossians 3:1-4 or 1 Corinthians 5:6-8. John 20:1-9.

Happy Easter! Our Lord has truly and indeed risen. He has overcome death and he has opened the gates of Heaven to all who believe and receive the gift of salvation. Alleluia! What a glorious day we celebrate!

Today’s Gospel concludes by saying, “For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead.” This is evident by the initial reaction of Mary of Magdala, Simon Peter and the Apostle John. No one ever loved Jesus so much as Mary Magdala. Jesus had done something for her that no one else could ever do. She was a scarlet sinner whom Jesus reclaimed, and forgave and purified. She had sinned much and so she loved much up to the grave.

It was a custom in Palestine to visit the tomb of a loved one for three days after the body had been laid to rest. It was believed that for three days the dead person’s spirit hovered around the tomb, and would depart when the body had become unrecognizable through decay. Her visiting the tomb of Jesus meant that she really loved Jesus. She could not hide such love. She could not help it. In fact, we deduce that she even lacked sleep until she visited her loved one. For this reason she went very early, a time between 3am and 6am. It was still grey-dark. Darkness here has the symbolism of unbelief.

When she arrived at the tomb she was amazed and shocked. Tombs in ancient times were not commonly closed by doors. In front of the opening was a groove, and in the groove ran a stone, circular like a cartwheel. The stone was wheeled into position to close the opening. Matthew in his gospel, in fact, tells us that the authorities had actually sealed the stone to make sure that no one would move it (Matthew 27:66). This was to prevent the disciples from coming and taking his body and claim that he was risen. Mary having been a disciples of Jesus for a while knew about the sealing. And so she was astonished to find the stone removed. “Could the Jews have taken away Jesus’ body”, she must have wondered, “are they not satisfied with killing him on a cross that they take even his body to inflict further indignities on him? Or else since there were ghoulish creatures who made it their business to rob tombs; could they have also robbed Jesus’ body? Even though she sees the stone rolled away, it does not occur in her mind that he is risen as he had said. She was still in darkness.

It must have been very tough for her and so she returned to the city to seek out Peter and John. Nevertheless, she went on loving and believing even when she could not understand; and that is the love and the belief which in the end finds glory. She was loved much and now she reciprocates the love even though in some darkness of understanding.

On hearing the news, Peter and John ran towards the tomb, the place of the action: an empty tomb. They are in a position of partial faith. The disciple whom Jesus loved arrives earlier than Peter. He looks in, sees the linen clothes, but does not go any farther. Peter arrives, stoops into the tomb, and sees the linen clothes and the napkin that was used to wrap Jesus’ head. He saw the clothes lying apart, carefully folded and placed to one side.

Do we recall the raising of Lazarus: he came forth from the tomb still wrapped in the clothing of death, and his head was still covered with the napkin. But here, not only is the tomb empty but the trappings of death are also empty. The clothing of death is already separated from the person. It means that death has been fully conquered by the resurrection of Jesus.

At this moment, a lot of thoughts go through John’s mind. Like Mary, he was also wondering, “Did somebody remove Jesus’ body? But if the tomb-robbers had been at work, why should they then leave the grave-clothes? But the grave clothes are neatly folded and placed on one side. They don’t look as if they had been put off or taken off by anybody, they look untouched; they are just lying there in their regular fold as if the body of Jesus had simply evaporated out of them.”

This sight suddenly penetrated to John’s mind; he remembered and immediately realized what had happened-and he believed. He saw with the eyes of faith and believed. He did not need any other proof. The signs of death had vanquished-the empty tomb, the empty clothes-and there he believed that Jesus is risen. He did not need any other form of proof; he was satisfied. He completely believed.

Love, here plays an extraordinary role. It is Mary, who loved Jesus so much, who is first at the tomb. It is John, the disciple whom Jesus loved and who loved Jesus, who first believes in the resurrection. Love gave him eyes to read the signs and a mind to understand.

It is true that we cannot really interpret the thought of another person, unless between us and him or her there is a bond of sympathy. The belief in the resurrection is depended not so much on the intellect, but on your love relationship with Jesus. Yes proofs are necessary but your personal experience of the resurrection is crucial. Cultivate a solid and firm relationship with Christ.

Let us pray,

My Lord, your sacred body and soul are forever united as one in a new and glorified state. You now invite all of us to share in your suffering and death in this life so that we can share in your resurrection. Fill my mind with understanding of this gift in order to fill me with hope so that I may work tirelessly for that day on which I hope to share in your resurrection. Jesus, I trust in you. Amen

Happy Easter!

Rev Fr Francis Wambua, SJ