Gospel Reflection for Easter Sunday – 9th April 2023 Written by Fr Brian Maher OMI
Gospel Reflection for Easter Sunday April 9th 2023
Several years ago I was leading an Easter Vigil Mass, as part of a Directed Retreat experience. The liturgy was well planned, there was a small, intimate group of people taking part and the setting was lovely. As part of the celebration the newly lit Pascal Candle was carried from the outside fire to the darkened chapel. Three times there was a stop, the candle was held aloft and “Christ our Light” was solemnly chanted. After the final time the candle was placed in its holder and I stood quietly in the sanctuary waiting for people to find their seats and settle.
As I looked at the light of the Candle, representing the newly risen Jesus, I had a sudden and very strong realisation that I had no real clue what “Resurrection” actually meant. It was almost like an internal voice saying to me, “do you really understand what you are celebrating here?” At the time, I will admit, it surprised and disconcerted me. For the rest of that liturgy and afterwards I had a strange sense of being both a hypocrite and of being given an invitation to explore this central mystery of our faith.
Since then I have never taken the reality of Resurrection for granted, and each Easter I look at the Pascal Candle casting it’s light into the darkness and remind myself that once again we are caught-up in an eternal love story which is beyond all telling.
If you were to ask me now, after several years of reflection and prayer if I understand the Resurrection any better, then my answer is “…of course I don’t!” The depth of love involved in what Jesus did for us is something I will never be able to understand. When Jesus told the parables of the man finding the ‘pearl of great price’ or the woman searching until she found her lost coin, I find myself saying that somehow the Resurrection is that pearl of great price, and the coin I must continue to search for.
Of course, when I first had this realisation, I should not have been disconcerted or upset. Even the briefest look at the Gospel accounts of the first Easter Sunday morning shows us that all of those who witnessed the events – Mary Magdalene, Peter, John, Thomas, the other apostles and disciples – also had not the slightest clue as to what was happening. No matter which Gospel account we choose to read, we will find confusion, doubt and conflicting stories.
And how could it be otherwise. They were facing an event for which there was no precedent or frame of reference. It took many years for them to piece together the clues Jesus might have given and gather together their memories of what he said. On Easter Sunday morning they had only an empty tomb, a missing body and strange stories of Jesus being seen alive again – the same man they knew and loved, yet somehow different.
Mary Magdalene told of an encounter with a man she thought was a gardener, only to discover when he spoke her name, “Mary” that it was in fact Jesus she was talking to. Then there were stories of an earthquake at the tomb, with appearances of men dressed in dazzling white, both inside and outside the tomb, saying that he had risen. Peter and John dash to the tomb to check for themselves what had happened. The tomb is indeed empty, the burial shroud is there, but they see no one. Two disciples talk of Jesus walking with them on the road to Emmaus, while other reports tell the apostles to go to Galilee, where they will see him. Then there was that strange story of Jesus not allowing Mary to touch him, because “he had not yet ascended to his Father”, yet a short time later he was insisting that Thomas touch his very wounds.
I would love to have been with Peter, John, and the other ‘leaders’ to listen to their conversations, and no doubt their arguments too, as they struggled to move from despair and desolation, to the bare beginnings of hope, then to their own encounters with Jesus, and finally to the realisation and conviction that he had indeed ‘Risen from the Dead’ and was truly with them.
It is interesting, I think, that from the moment Peter and the others accepted his Resurrection as fact, a completely new definition of ‘Apostle’ emerged. Apostles were no longer those Jesus had called as he walked the shores of Galilee. From now on an ‘Apostle’ is one who “witnesses to the Resurrection of Jesus.” Again and again in the Acts of the Apostles, Peter stresses this fact. Even St. Paul, who was learning to hate Jesus and his followers at this time, stated that he himself was made worthy to be called an “Apostle” because on the Road to Damascus, the Risen Lord had appeared to him. “…and last of all, like one untimely born, he appeared also to me.”
Isn’t it also interesting that using this definition of ‘Apostle’, it is Mary Magdalene, a woman, who is the first post-Resurrection Apostle. She becomes recognised as the first to whom Jesus appeared after his Resurrection. What an amazing gift that was.
Think for a moment what it means to be a ‘witness’ to something. In a court room, a witness is not called upon to make arguments or convince the jury of anything. That is the job of the lawyers and barristers.
Nor is a witness called upon to make judgements or decisions. That is the task of the judge and jury.
No, a witness is called to do one thing: To recount what they saw and heard. Nothing more, nothing less. The witness does not have to convince anyone, does not have to have clever arguments or speak in an educated, eloquent way. The witness simply says, “This is what I saw. This is what I heard. This is what I am certain of.”
It is well worth our while remembering this as we celebrate Easter. When Jesus tells us again and again “…do not be afraid”, this is why. We are his witnesses, needing only conviction, certainty and the hope and joy Resurrection must bring us.
Too frequently, I think, we think we must ‘convert people’ by our arguments and ideas. Too frequently, I think, we allow ourselves to be drawn into discussions which are about ‘proving’ this or that. Too frequently, I think, we come away from arguments upset or disillusioned because we ‘did not have answers’ or we ‘were not as clever’ as those who questioned us. But we do not have to convince anyone, and we do not have to prove anything.
As in Mark’s Gospel we simply say: “Do not be afraid. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here. See the place where they laid him.” (Mark 16:6)
We state what we ‘know’ to be the truth. We are called to do nothing more.
It is God who will ‘convert’ – not me! God may well use my conviction as a witness and the hope, joy, love and tolerance that flows from that conviction, but in the end it is God’s Spirit, working within each of us, who brings about conversion.
Pope Francis tells us in ‘The Joy of the Gospel’ that “It is not by proselytizing that the Church grows, but ‘by attraction’.” (EG 14).
Back to myself. I do not understand what Resurrection means. That is what I came to realise one Easter Saturday night some years ago. What I now realise is that I do not have to understand what it means, and I do not have to explain it or convince anyone that it happened. It is enough for me to say, “It is true that God came among us simply because he loves us. It is true that he spent his life healing, forgiving, and showing, by everything he did, that we are loved with a love which is infinite and eternal. It is true that he chose to die for us, to give his own life rather than renege on his promises. And it is true that God raised him from the dead, showing us once and for all that love does triumph over evil and that God’s love for us will never end. Just as Jesus rose from the dead, so too we will rise from the dead.”
I do believe that. I can even say that I know it is true.
My call, my challenge, this Easter Sunday is to ‘witness’ to it.
Resurrection is a joy which is deeper than pain, betrayal, catastrophe, or trauma. It is a joy which is not frothy or superficial, but ocean deep and always ready to rise again.
If I am to be an Apostle; if I am to be a witness to the Resurrection, then somehow my life must radiate the Joy of Easter Sunday morning. That is the challenge.
As Pope Francis said in the ‘Joy of the Gospel’:
“Ours is not a joy which comes from having many possessions, but it comes from having encountered a Person, Jesus.”
or in another place, “We must never look like someone who has just come back from a funeral!”
Have a wonderful, peaceful and deeply joyful Easter. Let the Risen Lord speak through your life.
Many thanks,
Brian.
If you have any comments, questions or thoughts on this scripture reflection, please feel welcome to email me at b.maher@oblates.ie
| Gospel | John 20:1-9 © |
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