EASTER SUNDAY B
YEAR OF THE CLERGY
AND CONSECRATED PERSONS
APRIL 1, 2018
Jesus, I trust in you!
When the Magdalene told them
about the missing body of Jesus, Peter and John ran to the tomb. They both saw
nothing but the burial cloths and the cloth that had covered the head of the
corpse rolled up in a separate place. The burial garments were neatly folded
but the body was not there.
The grave clothes of Jesus were
neatly folded. This tells us that the missing body of Jesus could not have been
the work of grave robbers. Remember that robbers of tombs have been known to
take away the clothes and leave the body. None ever took away the body and left
the clothes, especially when it was fine linen and new. Anyone would rather
choose to carry a dead body in its clothes than carry a naked corpse while
leaving the grave clothes behind. Besides, what tomb robber would find leisure
to fold up the linen?
The folded up burial cloths tell
us that the Lord Jesus rose from the dead and he will never die again. Unlike
ghosts who supposedly appear wearing their grave clothes or Lazarus who came
out of the tomb with his grave clothes on, the Lord Jesus rose from the dead
and laid the grave clothes aside. He rose to immortal life. He will never die
again. He came out free of the encumbrances of the burial cloths. He set them
aside because he was clothed with the robes of glory. As the prophet Elijah
dropped his mantle as he ascended to heaven on a flaming chariot, so also the
Lord Jesus left behind his earthly burial clothes because he will no longer
need them in heaven where death is no more.
St. Paul in his first letter to
the Corinthians said that we should clear out the old yeast, the yeast of
malice and wickedness, so that we may celebrate the feast with the unleavened
bread of sincerity and truth. When we arise from the death of sin to the life
of righteousness, we must leave our grave-clothes behind us…we must put off our
corruptions. We have gone through the difficult discipline of Lent. Having
confessed our sins, we have made reparation for them through our acts of
mortification. Holy Week has witnessed the intensity of our penance. Now that
it ends with the feast of the Resurrection, it is not right to go back to our
former ways. The end of Holy Week does not mean back to regular programming.
Rather, we should strive to rise from where we have fallen and follow Christ
more resolutely. “If you have been raised with Christ, seek what is above,
where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above and not
of what is on earth.”
Our Lenten journey culminates
with our personal and collective renunciation of Satan, his works and his empty
promises. This means that we have to really leave our grave clothes behind. The
renunciation will be followed by the renewal of our faith in the Father, Son,
and Holy Spirit. This entails a serious commitment from us to strive to be
better disciples, more resolute followers of Jesus. Let us rise from the tomb
together with Jesus today. Let us leave behind our grave clothes and put on our
wedding garments for we shall attend a feast. Christ, our Paschal Lamb, has
been sacrificed. Let us celebrate the feast with the unleavened bread of
sincerity and truth.
O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have
recourse to thee!
No comments:
Post a Comment