Monday in the Octave of Easter
When a detective interviews various people at a scene of a crime, there are often many different descriptions of what happened. Because each individual has a unique life experience, their perception of an event will be influenced by who they are and how they see the world. When reading the scripture readings today, this seems very evident. The tomb is found empty, but there are many different understandings of what this means. If we are like the apostles and the women, then hopefully when we see the empty tomb we can believe that Jesus is risen from the dead just as they proclaim. Jesus through His life, death and resurrection shows the immense love of God for us and His plan for our salvation. So when you look at the empty tomb and you think about all Jesus has done for you what do you see- What do you believe?
The gospel reading describes the events of that first Easter morning. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary leave the tomb “fearful yet overjoyed” and run to announce the news to Jesus’ disciples. The guards watching at the tomb tell the chief priests about the events that they have seen, and the chief priests respond with a contrived story that allows the soldiers to blame the disciples for taking the body of Jesus during the night. Peter, when He is filled with the Spirit boldly proclaims Jesus resurrection, since “God raised him up, releasing him from the throes of death, because it was impossible for him to be held by it.” (Acts 2: 24) Each person in these stories sees the empty tomb, but not all of them believe that Jesus is risen from the dead. The apostles and holy women were able to have faith in Jesus’ resurrection because after following Him through His life, passion, and death they realized that the power of God’s love was able to conquer all things- even death!
Recently the life, death and resurrection of Jesus took on new meaning for me when I came across a very new way of seeing my faith. Fr. Richard Rohr wrote the following: “Jesus did not come to change the mind of God about humanity (it did not need changing!) Jesus came to change the mind of humanity about God.” God loves us from the beginning- even when we were not worthy (and we would never be worthy on our own account!) Jesus came to show us how to live- to be fully human and to show us He is love incarnate. He also came to reveal the Father to us and to share the Spirit with us. Through His passion and death Jesus shows us that because He knows personally what it means to suffer, He is able to walk with us through the pains, sorrows and deaths that we experience. Finally, in the resurrection from the dead, Jesus helps us to know that not only has He overcome death, but He provides a glimpse of what will be in our future- the resurrection of the body and eternity lived with God.
Jesus came to help us change our minds, so we can know, believe and live out what has been since the beginning of time- God’s great love for us and all creation. How important it is for us to understand the following: “God does not love us because we are good; God loves us because God is good. Nothing humans can do will ever decrease or increase God’s eternal eagerness to love.” (Fr. Richard Rohr.) To focus on God’s grace and love instead of seeing our sins as an insurmountable challenge to overcome should be the cause of great hope and joy for every person. It is Christ who gives each of us the assurance of God’s mercy and limitless love. The cross and the empty tomb become symbols reminding us that at the core of everything we believe is God’s love made visible in the life of Jesus.
If this is the case, then hopefully we will both believe and live our lives rejoicing in the Good News. Jesus has lived, suffered, died and risen, and He provides us with the grace to do the same. In the midst of the trials, sufferings, and celebrations of our life, Jesus accompanies us. We are called to believe and invite Jesus to walk with us every day.
So as we take time to reflect on the life of Jesus, His death, and now the empty tomb, what do you believe? Can you see God’s immense love poured out for you and for all creation in Jesus? And because of this great love, how will you respond? May God give us the grace to hear and see the glory of Jesus and His resurrection, and may we proclaim joyfully “He is alive-Alleluia!” and live our lives on fire with this love.
"Heavenly Father, You sent us Jesus to reveal Your great love for us. By His life, death and resurrection, Jesus reveals Your love and calls us to become a part of your divine love. By the power of your Spirit may we increase our faith, so we can believe in Jesus as Christ and live our lives following Him in thoughts, words and deeds. May all we do bring you glory and praise; we pray this in Christ’s name. AMEN, ALLELUIA!"
Marylynn Herchline