Through Your Holy Resurrection

At long last, following the discipline and sacrifice of the Lenten season we have arrived at the glory of the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  On this Sunday we will hear the first reactions of the apostles as they are confronted with the empty tomb and grow in faith that Jesus is risen from the dead.

In John’s Gospel we read: “Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb.  So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. And said to them, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.’” (John 20:1-2)

The story begins with Mary Magdalene not quite understanding.  She witnessed the stone rolled away.  She may have even taken a quick look inside, to conclude that the body of Jesus was not there.  But she did not yet understand entirely what had happened.

“Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb.  The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.  He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in.” (John 20:3-5)

The disciples could easily have just dismissed the news given them by Mary Magdalene.  This would have been especially true of the beloved disciple, John.  He had stood at the foot of the cross and watched Jesus die.  But these disciples did not.  They had heard the preaching of Jesus.  They had witnessed His miracles.  They were with Him when He was transfigured.  So they set out and ran to the tomb. 

“Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb.  He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself.  Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed.” (John 20:6-8)

What Simon Peter had witnessed begins to let us know that something is not quite right.  The cloths are not totally disheveled, but rather one is rolled up very neatly.  In these few short verses we go from the non-comprehension of Mary Magdalene to the declaration of the Apostle John: “He saw and believed.”

But there are several things we must acknowledge in this short reading as well.  The Apostles were steeped in the teaching of our Lord.  As was said above, they had heard His teaching; they had witnessed His miracles, they had heard Him speak concerning His death and rising; they had been with Him during the transfiguration.  And then because of all this when they were perplexed and confused, they ran to the place where Jesus should have been, at the tomb.

Of course, He was not there.  He had been raised as He said.  This is the infant confession of the Apostle John who saw and believed.  Scripture tells us that this was just the beginning of their understanding.  “For as yet they did not understand the scripture that He must rise from the dead.” (John 20:9)

But we know that this will change too.  During the weeks of Easter that follow the Sunday of the Resurrection we will experience the encounters of the disciples with the Risen Christ.  In the Upper Room, on the road of Emmaus, by the Sea of Galilee.  Along with these encounters with the Risen Christ we also hear of the actions of the infant Church chronicled in the Acts of the Apostles.  Here we see them still gathering in the temple to share a life of prayer.  We see them breaking bread in their homes sharing in the Holy Eucharist.  We see them preaching the Gospel converting many others to join them in having faith in Jesus Christ Who rose from the dead. 

So, my brothers and sisters, where are you in this Gospel story?  Are you one who just stands along the sidelines not wanting to take a stand?  Are you one who runs to the tomb, in hopes to be joined once again to Jesus?  Are you one that hears the news of the Risen Christ and joins in the faith that Jesus lives?  Are you one who worships with the infant Church in the breaking of bread and the prayers?  I pray that we can all say with St. John that we ‘see and believe.’  Maybe we don’t see with our physical eyes, but certainly I pray that we ‘see’ much more deeply. 

During the Easter Sunday procession, we sang some very powerful words when the procession stopped at the four corners of the Church. “Through Your Holy Resurrection, Christ, our Lord, Son of God, forgive us all our transgressions; for now You have risen from the dead; Life eternal has begun and death’s battle You have won through Your holy strength, O Lord.”  We announce these words at the four corners of the Church reminding us that we must carry them to the four corners of the world.  We must carry them wherever we are and everyplace we go.

Because Jesus lives today, our sins are surely forgiven when we call upon His strength.  They were forgiven in His saving death upon the cross.  But that death was not the end.  We confess, “For now, Jesus, has risen from the dead.”  And because of the resurrection life, “Life eternal has begun.”  It is a life that we fully participate in, especially when we gather together for the worship of Almighty God in the Holy Eucharist.  And we live, no longer only for ourselves, but rather we live the life of Christ.  We know that all of this is accomplished “through Christ’s Holy Strength.” 

Living this Resurrection Life we say together with St. Paul: “So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.  Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9b-10) and also: “And it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ Who lives in me.  And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

Yes, Christ gave Himself for me, and for each and every one of you.  But that sacrifice certainly did not end in death.  Rather, through Christ’s Resurrection, His death came to its full meaning.  Today Jesus lives and for that reason we can “see and believe” that Christ lives in, with and through His followers.  Through receiving Holy Communion and joining with Him in the Holy Eucharist, we are continually being enlivened.  All of this was accomplished in His Resurrection on that first Easter morning, and yet it is still being accomplished in each of our hearts and lives as we are being conformed to the likeness of Christ.

My brothers and sisters, as we continue along in this Easter season, as we stand with the disciples and witness the resurrected Christ in Scripture and among us, as we continue to ‘see and believe’ in our own journey of faith, let us continue to announce within our lives: “Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!

To my brother bishops, to the priests and deacons, to all Polish National Catholics I extend my blessing for an Easter season that is an alleluia from the first day to its last and many days beyond.  Let us continue to live and share our joy that Christ lives today. Alleluia.