Easter Sunday of the Lord’s Resurrection
Scripture:
Acts 10:34a, 37-43
Colossians 3:1-4 or 1 Corinthians 5:6b-8
John 20:1-9 or Luke 24:1-12
Reflection:
Why Do You Seek the Living One Among the Dead?
Happy Easter! Jesus is risen, just as He said! Can we believe it? Can we believe in the truth of Easter? I do not ask this question lightly, because it was a question for some of the apostles before they saw the Risen Jesus themselves. In the Gospel reading for the Easter Vigil (Luke 24:1-12), after the women see the tomb empty, and report to the apostles what the two angels told them about the Resurrection of Jesus, the apostles thought that “their story seemed like nonsense and they did not believe them.”
Another reason I do not ask the question lightly is because of what is going on in our world. When the women see the angels, the angels say, “Why do you seek the living one among the dead? He is not here, but he has been raised. Remember what he said to you while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners and be crucified, and rise on the third day.”
That opening question by the angels is a challenge to us. If we really believe in the truth of Easter; if we really believe in the vindication of Jesus’ sacrifice made out of love, why do we seek life in the things that bring death? What am I talking about? When people do violence in the name of Jesus, do they think that somehow that violence will bring them life because it punishes “them?” In the same way, do we hold on to resentments, thinking that hatred or vengeance will bring us life?
Do we hold on to the “dead” desires of control and domination, believing that power and wealth bring us true life? When we hold on to these dead ideas, we are dismissing the truth of Easter, which shows us that the power of God is shown in love and sacrifice and giving of oneself.
Why would we look for life in the death-dealing motives of hate or fear or greed? Or would we give in to despair, and think we can only survive if we are indifferent to the needs of others?
Or could we, possibly, put our trust in the love of God? Could we live in the hope of the Resurrection, and seek to do our part in building up the kingdom? Yes, Easter, to a lot of people, is nonsense, but that doesn’t make it less real. But we cannot share the hope of Easter if we keep looking for life in things which bring death.
Don’t turn your back on the reality of Easter! May we no longer look for life in the things that bring death! Trust in the love of God in Jesus Christ! Even when the crosses are heavy and seem unbearable, try to remember that God can lift you up now as He has done for you before!
Jesus is Risen! Alleluia!
Fr. Phil Paxton, C.P., is the local superior of the Passionist Community in Birmingham, Alabama.