AN
EMPTY TOMB.
EASTER SUNDAY. YEAR A.
March 23, 2008.
(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)
AN EMPTY TOMB.
To believe in the resurrection
implies to believe that a death has occurred first, that there is a
tomb which, by virtue of the resurrection, is now empty, that the one
who was dead now lives.
The death of Jesus sets the groundwork for his
resurrection.
In the tomb the Lord Jesus
is the victim killed by
the injustices, the wrongs and evils of the world; in
the tomb he denounces the actions of a world which rejects
life, a world which cannot accept the life he came to bring to mankind,
a world intent on destroying the goodness, justice and peace which belong
to all mankind.
By coming out of the tomb,
Jesus restores life, goodness, justice and peace for all human beings;
thus he demonstrates that the power of
his life is greater that the power of death.
Our world today appears determined to remain
in the tomb.
Because it rejects the fruits of Jesus's resurrection:
His life!
While in the tomb, the world fabricates a false
illusion of "life".
Deep from inside its tomb the world pretends to give the
appearance of life. In order to do so it portrays death
as life, injustice as a "normal" state of collective life,
indifference as a necessary means to bring "tranquility" of
conscience, lies a means to obscure the truth.
There is only one way to get out of the tomb
and participate in the life of the risen Lord?
We participate in the life of the risen Lord by continuing the works
he did while on earth. The Book of 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).
Those who want to participate in the life of the risen Lord are to continue
his works, "doing good and healing all
those oppressed by the devil", that is to say, healing
all those oppressed by injustice.
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".
We all now can rejoice in the Easter experience that the
tomb is truly empty.
