INTRODUCTION
The Resurrection of Jesus is the central pillar of our Faith. “If Christ did not rise, our Faith is in vain.” I Cor. 15:14.
In His resurrection, Jesus overcame death, the consequence of sin.
Because of Jesus, we are no longer bound to sin or death but are liberated from both sin and death through the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
In Hebrews 6:5, Paul writes, “As in Adam all die, so also, in Christ, shall all be made alive. We live now not according to the flesh but according to the spirit.”
Christ’s resurrection takes place in history, in real time, and in real space. This real historical event is attested to by hundreds of eye witnesses after his resurrection. Acts 1:22
Some of the historical facts to support the resurrection are: the empty tomb and burial cloth discovered by John and Peter John 20:2
The eyewitness account of Mary Magdalene John 19:31, and the eyewitness accounts of the apostles in the upper room, Easter evening. John 20:19-23
HE IS RISEN ALLELUIA!
REFLECTION
The final enemy Jesus must face down is death by His own death, a death on the cross.
Oh death, where is thy sting! 1 Corinthians 15:55
“Faith in the Resurrection is the basis of our hope in the inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.” I Peter 1:4
For those disciples who follow Jesus…the same fate awaits…a glorious resurrection of our bodies on the last day…eyes have not seen…ears have not heard what await those who love Jesus…1 Corinthians 2:9
He is risen…He is alive…He goes before us….do not be afraid… the risen Lord has not gone away…He remains with us in the sacraments…in our faith…in our prayers
EYE WITNESSES TO THE EMPTY TOMB
“On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.”
Peter and John ran to the tomb and saw the burial cloths and the cloth that covered his head. They did not yet understand the Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead and they returned home. John 20:3-4
.But Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the body of Jesus had been.
And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus.
Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” She thought it was the gardener and said to him, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.”
MARY!
She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,”
Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'” Mary of Magdala went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and what he told her.” John 20:1-18
REFLECTION
Mary was weeping because she could not find her Lord…
How do I feel when the Lord does not seem near?
Jesus appears to Mary. Mary did not recognize Him until He addressed her by name…
Listen for when Jesus calls us by name because He does…sometimes in a whisper
Gently Jesus admonishes Mary…she must not cling to him…soon He will be ascending to the Father. Mary must remain his disciples without His physical presence….
Do we today believe in faith that Jesus is present in our lives?
Rejoice and be glad, for Jesus died and rose for each one of us!
May the infinite love of our Risen Lord give us all reason to embrace the mystery of faith and be faithful witnesses to Jesus Christ, Savior of the world!
CHRIST VICTORIOUS
WE ARE AN EASTER PEOPLE AND ALLELUIA IS OUR SONG