RESURRECTION: HUMANITY'S GREATEST EVOLUTIONARY LEAP.

EASTER SUNDAY. YEAR B.
April 12, 2009.
(First reading: Acts 10:34, 37-43) (Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23)
(Second reading: Colossians 3:1-4) (Gospel reading: John 20:1-9)


RESURRECTION: HUMANITY'S
GREATEST EVOLUTIONARY LEAP.

Before the resurrection, the evolution of man was an evolution of death.
The first step in man's evolution toward life eternal begins with the resurrection of Jesus and his resurrection begins with his death, because with his death Jesus denounces a world which destroys life, a world which destroys justice and peace and the goodness of human nature.

By his resurrection, Jesus restores life, the goodness of human nature and justice and peace for all; thus he demonstrates that the power of his life is greater that the power of death, he brings an end to death.

The world appears, however, determined to remain dead.
The world promotes death over life, promotes the glorification of the powerful and the subjugation of the weak; rewards the accumulation of wealth in the hands of a few; fosters conflicts between individuals and between nations; our world promotes the evolution of death into more death.

The world's false illusion of "life".
The world pretends to give the appearance of life. It portrays death as life, injustice as a "normal" state of collective life, indifference as a means to ignore the horrors of war, false religion as a sedative to bring "tranquility" to the evildoer's conscience.

The resurrection of Jesus is the greatest evolutionary leap in the history of humankind.
By the resurrection of Jesus and for the first time in history man can remain alive for ever.

And this is how man is able to remain alive for ever: by continuing the works Jesus did while on earth. The Acts of the Apostles describes these works: "Jesus of Nazareth... went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil" (Acts 10:38). That is to say, by liberating all those oppressed by injustice, self-serving interests, lies, dispossession, abuse, war.

As Psalm 118 declares, he who participates in the works of the Lord can say: "I shall not die but live and declare the deeds of the Lord".