The Witnesses...

April 24, 2011

THE RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

Easter Sunday Mass

Ac 10,34a.37-43 . 1Cor 5,6b-8

Morning Mass: Jn 20,1-9

Evening Mass: Lk 24,13-35

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CHRISTUS RESURREXIT!!! ALLELUIA!!!

The overflowing joy continues today in the Solemnity of Easter, which began last night with the great Vigil. We witnessed last night how God loved us through the course of time. And in the Gospel, we witnessed how the women had the jive of joy and fear knowing that their Master is alive. We heard most especially the words, Be not afraid... to proclaim God's saving world amidst the world of secularization and chaos.

We especially see this in the eyes of the chosen few which are the highlights of today's Gospel accounts. Peter and John, Mary Magdalene, and the two disciples of Emmaus.

First, we look into Mary Magdalene. Being the Apostle to the Apostles, she served as the first witness to the miracle of the Resurrection (according to the scriptures; Mary the Mother of the Lord was the first to see him according to tradition, thus the Salubong). She loved the Lord so much, and she cannot take the fact that the tomb is empty. Thus it was to her that the Lord appeared first, as a gardener. 

Next were John and Peter. These two great companions of Jesus were awe-stricken upon seeing the empty tomb. A little doubt is still shown in them, for they did not yet understand the scripture that he had to rise from the dead. But as they reached the tomb and saw the burial clothes, they believed that something supernatural happened. But the Lord did not appear to them until that evening.

We also look in the two unnamed disciples who had gone home to Emmaus in gloomy faces. They never thought that it all ended there. They did not knew that the stranger who walked with them on their way home and discussed the teachings and the prophecies about the Son of Man is Jesus himself. They only noticed him when they invited him to stay at their home for the night, when he broke the bread and disappeared. It was then that their eyes were opened and recognized him.

So in the different Gospel accounts proclaimed today, we see the Lord appeared to these witnesses in a way different from the other. He manifested himself at one, he only left signs on the other, and he came unnoticed on the last. But these appearances lead us to but one reality: THAT JESUS IS INDEED RISEN! He may come in different manifestations, he may leave certain signs but not show his physical and glorified body, but nevertheless the message is still clear, that Jesus has resurrected from the dead, and lives forevermore.

Mary Magdalene, John, Peter, and the Two disciples of Emmaus. They saw the Lord in different situations and believed. But what for us?

Nowadays, people ask God for signs that something would happen. Lord, give me a sign... When God grants it, we believe at that instant. Signs may come in different forms: may makita tayong kakaibang hiniling natin sa Diyos, or may ma-encounter tayo na isang tao na hindi naman talaga natin ine-expect. When the sign is not granted, we go in remorse, knowing that this is not God's will.

But to ask God if he is really there, we don't need to ask for signs anymore, because we really know that deep within our hearts Jesus is there, igniting our desires to be witnesses of His resurrection. He leads us through our day-to-day activities, guiding us on what to do. For a real Christian, this is enough, Dayenu, for him to see the presence of the Lord. This is enough for him to be considered as a witness.

We are the Easter people! We live and witness through our everyday in the joy of the Resurrection of our Lord. We are witnesses of God's grace of faith through Baptism. We are witnesses of his love in the middle of war and strife. We are witnesses to His promise of eternal and everlasting life through our works of mercy, charity and holiness. 

And these tell enough that we are indeed witnesses of Jesus' Resurrection. These are the reasons why we celebrate today's great feast with overflowing gladness. These are the reasons why we continue to live and die for our faith, for we know that he will never leave us alone in those trying moments.

Let's move onward to Easter with this joy in our being. Let's continue proclaiming and giving witness to God's infinite mercy and love, through which our Lord Jesus gave his life and got it back again through his resurrection. Let's hope for his guidance and inspiration through the journey. Let's believe the greater in the mysteries of our faith. Most of all, let's love the more like Jesus did, offering his life for us and rising into glory through his far greater love.

Once again, our greetings on the occasion of the Feast of all feasts. May the Risen Lord be with us, and may we be greater witnesses of his resurrection!