By Rev. Canon David B. Tabo-oy
v3Then Peter and the other disciple went to the tomb. v4The two of them were running, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and reached the tomb first. v5He bent over and saw the linen cloths, but he did not go in. v6Behind him came Simon Peter, and he went straight into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there v7and the cloth which had been around Jesus’ head. It was not lying with the linen cloths but was rolled up by itself. v8Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in; he saw and believed. (v9They still did not understand the scripture which said that he must rise from death.) v10Then the disciples went back home. (John 20:3-9)
Alive, alive, alive, forever more. My Jesus is alive, alive forevermore. Sing alleluia, Sing Alleluia. My Jesus is alive! These words with an upbeat tune always bring to life and frenzy a charismatic fellowship gathering. The event that inspired these words in that praise song took place on that first Easter morning in the garden where Jesus was entombed. There was fretful excitement on that early morn. They discovered an empty grave. Jesus has risen! This is what we gloriously celebrate this Sunday.
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The joy, beauty and mystery of that glorious morning are captured in a hymn written by Brian Wren (1936):
Christ is risen? Shout hosanna! Celebrate this day of days.
Christ is risen! Hush in wonder, all creation is amazed.
In the desert all surrounding, see a spreading tree has grown.
Healing leaves of grace abounding bring a taste of love unknown. (ECP Hymnal #72)
If wild applause and beating of gangsa and dancing were ever in order in the church service, this is the time to do that. It is a day for Christians to cheerfully celebrate Christ’s victory over death. Clearly the dominant mood in our worship this morning is joy. It is a day for breaking out the band, clapping of hands and shouting, singing, “Hallelujah!”
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One of our famous and enduring characters as Filipinos is our ability to laugh even during difficult times. We are also known in celebrating fiestas – or creating a reason to celebrate. In the indigenous peoples’ culture, we have also this practice of celebrating and giving thanks especially when good things or blessings come to us such as good harvest, a wedding or just for a reason that the members of the family are reunited. We celebrate, and we do it pompously even in extravagance. This we do as an expression of deep joy and happiness. As Christians we should do more on this occasion: the day of resurrection of our Lord.
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Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early: Jesus was crucified on Friday (or on Thursday by some accounts). After His entombment, the tomb was sealed and guarded by Roman soldiers (Matthew 27:62-66). The tomb stayed sealed and guarded until discovered on the first day of the week… early, while it was still dark. Jesus had cast seven demons out of this Mary (Luke 8:2, Mark 16:9). Her troubled past didn’t disqualify her from being the first witness of the resurrected Jesus and His first commissioned messenger of His resurrection.
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When the disciples witnessed the resurrection of Jesus, their doubts and discomforts did not immediately vanish. On the contrary, the resurrection of Jesus presented a new host of problems for them. They have to cope up with what the new situation demands. First they have to understand and absorb the implication of having a Lord that died and then rose again. The bottomline is the question: What does resurrection mean in their lives as disciples? They later learned and we now know that through Jesus Christ, God has conquered the powers of sin and death. Therefore, it means that those who follow Jesus how have a new message to proclaim. No longer do we speak of separation of people and of death that separation could bring. Now we speak of unity, of concord, of life and peace. All barriers that formerly separated people have been abolished. Resurrection challenges us to replace distrust and fear of others with understanding and love. This means that war, hatred or prejudice have no place under the lordship of the risen Christ Jesus. The word of the resurrection is not just the good news of life’s victory over death. It is also the hard challenge to overcome the barriers, the fears, the distrust, and alienation that separate us from others.
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Mary Magdalene did not stay in the garden with the risen Lord “to enjoy his presence in solitude.” Mary came to the tomb and when he found it empty and learned that her Lord has indeed risen, rose up and went to the other disciples and shared – or shall I say proclaimed what she learned. We also learn from the Gospel that Christ told Mary, “Go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending. Mary went and told. The thousands of people who came to faith in Christ in the first few years after the resurrection did so not because they met Jesus of Nazareth in the flesh. They encountered the risen Lord in the testimony and praise and actions of those who bore the name Christian.
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Easter calls us to celebrate the fact that the light of Christ has come into the darkness of our world providing us with hope for a future greater than we dare believe. It challenges us to share a kind of living that goes beyond the expectation of this earth. This is not possible unless we reverse our sinful ways by rising above the things that keep us entombed and imprisoned and become the people of the resurrection. Easter has no meaning for us if Christ has emptied his tomb and we are afraid to come forth and put the darkness of sin to flight by exposing ourselves to his light. All our hopes and happiness come from Christ’s resurrection. It announces that love is present in the world and is more powerful than the evil any individual may carry out. The good news is that in all the dark and despairing moments of life the possibility of resurrection exists because no defeat is final and no life is written off as hopeless.
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We are builders or destroyers of our own destiny so let us make use of the power of Jesus to ensure that our life grows towards God. It is our union with Christ in baptism that we share in the glory of his resurrection. This eucharistic celebration provides us with an opportunity of renewing our commitment to Christ personally, by taking a fresh look at the life we vowed to lead. Baptism means letting the word of God dwell in our hearts (Desmond Kowles).
As we thrill to the glorious music of this Easter morning, as the Spirit touches our hearts through the Word proclaimed, as we partake of the Sacraments, let us remember that God is moving us, and not just to a deeper knowledge of Jesus Christ for ourselves. The Lord’s commission is to move us into the world to share the glad news to every one: CHRIST IS RISEN INDEED!
Let us pray.
Almighty God, who for our redemption gave your only-begotten Son to the death of the cross, and by his glorious resurrection delivered us from the power of our enemy: Grant us so to die daily to sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his resurrection; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (ECP-BCP Easter Vigil Collect)**
