by Rev. Canon David B. Tabo-oy
The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for
I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Matthew 28:5 (read also Mark 16:1-8)
Alleluia! The Lord is risen! The Lord is risen indeed, alleluia!
The crowning glory of Jesus’ earthly ministry happened on that Easter Day which year by year we celebrate with joy and optimism. On that first Easter day our Lord Jesus resurrected from the dead. I recall an editorial piece of one daily newspaper in April 13, 2006 described the event ‘The Paradox of Christ’. Indeed, what took place at that time was absurd or ironic. Why so? Only days before, Jesus had swept into Jerusalem, welcomed like a victorious king amid the wild cheers of the throng of people. That, we remembered last Sunday sans the procession because of the restrictions imposed due to COVID 19 pandemic. The next moment, the Establishment is bearing down on him – accused as a blasphemer by the religious leaders and a destabilizer to the Roman authorities. He would find refuge, although temporarily, in the Garden of Gethsemane. But soon, he would be in the hands of his persecutors, subjected to the cruelest of physical indignities. Before long, he was once again walking the streets of Jerusalem, only this time, with gashes and bruises, blood and grime all over his body, a crown of thorns on his head, and a heavy wooden cross on his back. The crowd that had hailed him a few days earlier was also back on the streets, but the tumultuous cheers had turned into raucous jeers. A few hours later, he was on the hill of Calvary, nailed to the cross — and dead. The paradox of Christ.
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His enemies thought they had buried him forever in oblivion. Of course, at that time, they had no way of knowing that by dying he had conquered death. What looked like one man’s total defeat, he turned into a monumental victory for all humankind. This is the eternal paradox of Jesus Christ whose resurrection from the grave we celebrate this Sunday. As a text message that has been circulating in the past Holy Weeks puts it: “He had no servants, yet they called him Master. He had no degrees, yet they called him Teacher. He prescribed no medicines, yet they called him Healer. He commanded no army, yet kings feared him. He won no military battles, yet he conquered the world. He committed no crime, yet they crucified him. He was buried in a tomb, yet he lives today.” Now we can see – that Christ’s life is a MESSAGE in itself for which we can always draw particular lesson or two to guide us as Christians in this country and in our respective communities. Such lesson or lessons could guide us at certain turns and times of our lives, if only we look closer – and look at the mirror and seriously reflect on the reflection that we see.
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First, from his triumphal entry which we commemorated last Sunday in the service of Palm Sunday and that led him to his crucifixion several days later: “Sic gloria mundi fugit.” Latin words translated in English, “All earthly glory is fleeting.” This is a timely reminder for our leaders who want to stay in power forever, never mind if they have to lie, cheat, steal, bribe, threaten, and use force and other tools that go with their positions.
For a world increasingly awed by, if not obsessed with, wealth, fame and power: There are larger and greater things than our material treasures and desires, or even existence. All through his ministry, Jesus kept emphasizing that “Not by bread alone does man live.” And “What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul.” He proved this sincerely with his life and examples – when He refused Satan’s temptation of giving him “all the kingdoms of earth and the glory of them”; when he gave up all worldly attachments, including his family, and even his life.
We also learn from Christ’s example the need to sacrifice for the larger goals. He had come to save the fallen man and he was the only hope for man’s salvation – no one else. But to fulfill his mission, he had to suffer pain and humiliation like no other man. And he knew that all this sacrifice would generally be unappreciated, especially by those who were meant to benefit from it the most. The thought of it almost broke his spirit. “Father, if you be willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done.” But he persisted, and sacrifice he did.
And we know the rest of the story. It did not end, it made a new beginning.
Sisters and brothers in Christ, if we do not see our celebration this Easter day through this looking glass, then our celebration is a sham. Even our celebration of the Holy Eucharist would just be a meaningless ritual if we do not see the connection of Christ’s ultimate sacrifice and the lessons he taught us in his words and actions.
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Another lesson that we learn: Just when we think things cannot get any worse, God infuses our lives with promise and hope. God makes right that which previously had been wrong. God brings life out of death. This is what Jesus accomplished when he rose from the dead on that Easter day. There maybe doubts about the resurrection just like the doubts that the ‘gospel of Judas’ that may have made a dent in the faith of Christian believers.
Here is where the whole truth becomes even better than we ever thought possible. Like Mary Magdalene and her friends of old, early that Easter day, we may make our way to the tomb of our lost love, the sepulcher of our dead dreams, our ruined reputation, our devastated faith, or late some evening we may look starkly into the depth of our despair, hopelessness, and depression. And there – right there! – Just when we are ready to give up, to give in, we find God, or realize God has found us. No angel in shining raiment will have to tell us what has happened; we will know firsthand the beyond-joyful reality of resurrection. And we will hear the angel’s assuring words, “He is not here, he has risen!”
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“Do not be afraid” (Matthew 28:5). Why were the women not to be afraid? The angel’s response gives us the answer: “for I know that you are looking for Jesus”. The women had remained loyal friends of Jesus when the world despised and crucified him. At Christ’s return, his faithful will have no reason to fear if they also have remained loyal to him in the midst of a world that rejects his love, salvation and holy Word. John expresses this truth in 1 John 2:28: “And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.”
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Amidst the onslaught of COVID 19 pandemic, we are alarmed. We are afraid. It is so because not only the virus mutated to potent variants but more so we cannot see this enemy. Let the hope that the resurrection of Jesus our Lord brought to the world give us courage not to be alarmed or afraid of this deadly virus. Let us seek Jesus amidst the quarantines and fear of the deadly virus. In and beyond this pandemic the risen Christ is there waiting to embrace us assuring us that He is alive and ever with us in all conditions we find ourselves into as travel on in this earthly pilgrimage. *
Let us pray.
O God, who for our redemption gave your only-begotten Son to the death of the cross, and buy 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 for ever. Amen (ECP-BCP Easter Day Collect)
