Homilies

EASTER SUNDAY: A CELEBRATION OF FAITH, JOY, AND WITNESSING

IN SOME European countries, like Italy, I have observed that Easter is being celebrated more meaningfully than Christmas. Christians on that part of the globe emphasize more the feast of Easter. In fact, these people can be more generous during this season. In the Philippines, Christians do normally give gifts during Christmas season, for it is understood that Christmas is a time of giving. In contrast, the Italians would rather give gifts during Easter season. And they may be right. Putting more meaning to Easter celebrations is but right because Easter is a great, and in fact, the greatest feast of the Church. We remember the greatest deed of God for our sake which is a cause for a great celebration.

Let us now reflect on the meaning of this celebration for us believers.

First, Easter is a celebration of faith. The gospel says about the importance of faith in understanding the resurrection of Christ. There are three disciples mentioned in the gospel, namely, Mary of Magdala, Peter, and the disciple whom Jesus loved who is to be interpreted as John. The three became witnesses to the empty tomb, but they had different reactions when they saw it. Mary surmised that the body of Jesus was taken and was put somewhere. Her faith has not grown yet. Peter did not show any judgment of what he saw. But John had a praiseworthy reaction. Why? Because when he saw the empty tomb, “he believed.” The empty tomb is the object of our belief. Our faith in the resurrection of Jesus is directed at the empty tomb. We don’t need our bodily eyes because these could not understand the event. We should use another set of eyes. We should look at the empty tomb through the eyes of faith, so that we could see more clearly the meaning of Christ’s rising for us. The Mary of Magdala in us should be transformed into John. We must believe or strengthen our faith in Christ who has been raised by God from the dead.

Second, Easter is a celebration of joy. The responsorial psalm captures the feeling: “This is the day that the Lord has made! Let us rejoice and be glad.” For some people, in their joy, they become more generous to others. However, that joy has its basis on the new life that Christ has offered us through his resurrection. We have a share in that new life. It can be seen as a gift for us from the risen Lord. But it is also a task. St Paul emphasizes that in the second reading. He says that we should “clear out the old yeast.”  He exhorts to celebrate the feast of Easter, not with the old yeast, but with the new yeast of sincerity and truth. Easter could have no meaning for us if we nevertheless cling to the old sinful life. Easter is about new life; a renewed life.

Third, Easter reminds us of our calling to become “witnesses” or bringers of good news to others. This is the tone of the preaching of Peter in the first reading. The witnessing of the disciples of Jesus is witnessing par excellence because they witness to what they had seen and heard. However, our kind of witnessing is different because we have not personally and physically seen and heard Jesus. But certainly, we have been transformed by Christ in and through our faith in him. We, an Easter people, have been transformed and renewed by him through his dying on the cross and through his resurrection. This is the good news that we bring and we intend to testify and share to others. This is the powerful weapon we could have in order to convince those who have lost and those who have no more faith in Christ. We have to demonstrate to them that Christ is alive in our midst; Christ is alive in us.

This is what Easter is all about. The new life that is in Christ must transform us. In receiving a new life, we can also become agents of renewal or renewed life to others. But this could only be possible if we have faith.

HAPPY EASTER!

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