We live in a broken world, marked by war, poverty, famine, natural calamities, etc. We all need hope, especially our brothers and sisters who have personally experienced these issues. Easter is the greatest assurance for humanity and the Cosmos that everything will turn out for our good, according to God’s plan. Humanity and the entire cosmos find the greatest hope in the risen Christ. The risen Christ tells us that neither death nor failure are the end of our existence. Our existence will not end with our life here on earth. The resurrection of Christ assures us of the prophecy we read in the book of revelation: “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.” (Rev. 21:4)
The gospel passage of the day presents to us the narration of Easter morning. We see Mery Magdala come to Jesus’ tomb. After rolling the stone to the side, she saw that the tomb was empty. She becomes panicky and informs Peter and John. They, too, ran and reached the tomb. They go inside the tomb and verify Mary’s information concerning Jesus’ body. Though, Jesus had clearly indicated on various occasions that he would rise again, they could not understand his prediction. For them, it was impossible for a person who underwent such a tragic and brute death to rise again from the dead. In our life journey, we too encounter hopeless situations and dead ends. When they understood that Jesus’ body was missing, they did not know what to do. They felt helpless, unable to defend Jesus during his ordeal, and now they were at a loss for what to do.His body was found missing.
Peter and John go back, but Mary remains outside, weeping. She assumed the role of the privileged disciple, encountering the risen Lord and sharing the good news of Jesus’ resurrection with the world. The first reading of the day presents to ask about the transformation of Peter and his witness. A man who denied Jesus is now fearlessly proclaiming Him. “God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.” (1 Pet.20:40-41) The witness of Peter explains to us the transformation that Jesus’ body underwent. He underlines that he lives, and the risen Christ is the hope of our salvation. In the second reading, St. Paul reminds us that this is our future destiny. If Christ died for us, he has risen for us, and his resurrection is a foreshadowing of our own resurrection. “So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth.” (Col. 3: 1-2)
As we continue our faith journey, let us remind ourselves that our earthly life should be a pilgrimage. The difficulties that we encounter here are not lasting; they are temporary. The risen Christ is present with us, and he will guide our history and destiny so that we will share his existence and eternity with him.