Easter Sunday A 2023: April 9, 2023

In his book, Awesome Glory, Abbot Jeremy Driscoll relates a story told by a bishop from India. A Hindu teenager began to hang around some Catholic priests at a school he attended. He was obviously a spiritual seeker and asked the priests many questions about Christian belief. At one point one of the priests gave the young man a copy of the gospels and asked him to read it and come back with questions and reactions. The young man came back after a short while flabbergasted and accusing. He wanted to make sure he had gotten it right and he demanded clarification. “Is it true that Jesus is risen from the dead; really risen from the dead?” ‘Yes,” they answered calmly, not at all displeased with his enthusiasm. “Why didn’t you tell me,” he shouted at them. He was astonished that they did not tell him this straight out from the beginning.

The thing that impressed the people of Jesus’ time the most, was not so much Jesus teachings, not his miracles, not the goodness of his life; it was the fact that Jesus has risen from the dead. This was the news that began to spread throughout the world of that time like wildfire; that Jesus had conquered death, that was something that made a difference. It was something to live for, and to die for.

We, in our day, cannot imagine what the burden of death was for those who did not believe. The only thing for a person was this world and what it could bring; if you did not come out on top, then you were doomed to a meager existence of living from pay time to pay time, always wondering what the next day would bring. With Jesus was the belief that life does not end, but merely changes to a life forever with God. Of course, once this was accepted, many more aspects of Jesus' teaching and way were open to a person. Perhaps in our day, there are people who also make this great discovery to new life.

What about us? We have prayed through a long Lent; we have given alms, we have fasted. We have been through the ups and downs of Holy Week. And now, we are joyous to celebrate again the resurrection, the victory over sin and death. We celebrate being the sons and daughters of God and members of the Body of Christ himself. But there is something important to remember: Being Christ’s body and children of his Father, calls us to come out of ourselves into a world of misery in which this message is sorely needed.

We cannot keep it to ourselves, any more than Peter, Mary and John could as recounted in today’s gospel from John. It may not mean that we will preach in a park or street corner, but it does mean that it is up to us to make Christ present to people who really need to experience Jesus, not just to hear his teaching or doctrine that come from it. After all, this was the method of the first Christians who were recognized by their love for one another; a love which spilled over to non believers. We need to live the good news that Jesus has risen and gives hope to a world which needs hope. This is the love of Peter, Mary of Magdala and John, the disciple Jesus loved; it can be our love as well, lived out in this country, this parish, this home. Experiencing the risen, living Jesus is needed everywhere. Jesus has given us a new commandment: Love one another, as I have loved you.