Sunday 20 April 2025 – EASTER – Resurrection of the
Lord (Year C)
The Joy of the Risen Christ
“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad” (Ps 118:24)
Mass Readings: Acts 10:34.37-43 Ps 118 Col 3:1-4 Jn 20:1-9
Key Verse to Meditate: for as yet they did not know the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. (Jn 20:9)
My Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Risen Lord,
Happy Easter!
It is with hearts full of joy and gratitude that we gather to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ—the greatest and most glorious feast in the life of the Church. Easter is not merely one feast among many; it is the Feast of feasts, the very cornerstone of our Christian faith. It is the light that illuminates the entire liturgical year and gives meaning to every other celebration.
Why is Easter so central? Because the Resurrection of Jesus is the most astounding, joyful, and life-transforming news ever proclaimed. It is not just good news; it is the Good News. Jesus is risen! This proclamation has echoed through the centuries, changing lives and inspiring hope. It was the foundation of the apostles’ preaching, and it remains the heart of our faith today.
As St. Paul proclaims powerfully in his First Letter to the Corinthians: “If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, and your faith is in vain… you are still in your sins.” (1 Cor 15:14,17)
The Resurrection affirms that Jesus is not merely a noble teacher or a prophet who died a tragic death. He is the Son of God, who has conquered sin and death and opened the way to eternal life. Through his death, he redeemed humanity; and through his resurrection, he restored life to the world.
The Empty Tomb: A Sign of Hope
Today’s Gospel (John 20:1–9) brings us to the empty tomb. The stone is rolled away. The linen cloths lie there, but Jesus is not. The tomb is empty—not because someone has taken his body—but because death could not hold him. He is risen, just as he said.
I had the grace to celebrate Mass once in the very tomb of Jesus in Jerusalem. Standing in that sacred place, now gloriously empty, filled my heart with awe. It was a silent but powerful testimony: He is not here. He is risen. It was a moment of grace—a reminder that Christ has overcome the grave. As the Book of Revelation says: “Fear not. I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.” (Rev 1:17–18)
Mary Magdalene, Simon Peter, and John
St. John, in Chapter 20:1-9, presents to us the Resurrection of Jesus through the lens of three great personages of this Good News: Mary Magdalene, Simon Peter, and John himself. The Fourth Gospel highlights only Mary Magdalene as coming to the tomb early in the morning. Imagine the love this woman—the first missionary of the Gospel—had for the Lord. Once regarded as a sinner and a woman possessed by demons, she completely turned her life around after encountering Jesus. Her life was changed because He changed it.
Mary Magdalene: The Apostle to the Apostles
Among those who first witnessed the mystery of the Resurrection, Mary Magdalene stands out. Driven by love and devotion, she arrives at the tomb early in the morning. Her eyes search for a dead body, but instead she encounters the Living Lord. She is the first to believe and the first to proclaim the Resurrection to the apostles. That is why the Church Fathers honored her with the title: “Apostle to the Apostles.” Her faith reminds us that love often sees what fear and doubt cannot.
Mary Magdalene - The first missionary of the Gospel
Not finding the body of Jesus in the tomb, Mary rushes to inform Peter and John: "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him" (Jn 20:2). By doing so, she announces the Resurrection to the leaders of the apostolic band. This implies that Mary Magdalene had by then become part of the inner circle of Jesus' followers—recognized, respected, and loved.
It was indeed astounding news: the tomb was open, and the body of Jesus was missing. Hearing this, the senior apostles Peter and John run to the tomb. John arrives first and sees the linen cloths lying there, but he does not go in. Peter, arriving later, enters the tomb and observes everything carefully. Then John, who had waited outside, also enters, and Scripture says: "He saw and believed" (Jn 20:8).
This is the Easter message: Resurrection faith begins with seeing and believing. John saw and believed, even though he did not yet understand fully. As the next verse clarifies: “For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise from the dead” (Jn 20:9).
The Resurrection was foretold by the prophets and predicted by Jesus Himself (Lk 24:44-46). Yet it was still too much to grasp. The one they had seen suffer, die, and be buried was now alive again. But soon, after meeting the Risen Lord, these once-confused disciples would be transformed—burning with a fire that would proclaim the truth of the Resurrection to the ends of the earth.
The Power of Witness and Collaboration
There’s another powerful lesson from this Easter Gospel: the resurrection story unfolds as a collaborative proclamation. Had Mary Magdalene not gone to the tomb, she would not have encountered the Risen Christ. Had she not met Him, she would not have told the disciples. Had Peter and John not listened to Mary, they wouldn’t have run to the tomb. Had John not waited for Peter before entering the tomb, he might have missed the full significance of what he saw.
Each
one plays a vital role. Each one respects the mission and charism of the other.
And together, they bring forth the Good News. Easter faith is not an individual
experience but a shared journey—a beautiful collaboration in truth.
St. John: Faith that Sees Beyond
The Gospel tells us that John, the beloved disciple, entered the tomb after Peter and “he saw and believed.” (Jn 20:8) He believed without seeing the risen Jesus, only the signs—the empty tomb and the linen cloths. His faith was mature, born not of physical sight but of spiritual insight, shaped by love and trust. John had stood at the foot of the Cross; now, in the silence of the tomb, he grasps the mystery. This quiet, contemplative faith is a model for all of us: Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.
John's later writings reflect this deep encounter. In his first letter, he testifies: “That which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands… we proclaim to you the eternal life.” (1 Jn 1:1–2).
The Love That Runs: John
Why did John run to the tomb? Because he loved the Lord deeply. He had lived through the entire drama of Holy Week in intimate closeness with Jesus. His heart could not contain the urgency of hope. He ran—faster than Peter—not just because he was younger, but because love makes us run. And yet, out of reverence, he waited.
The line "They did not yet understand the Scriptures" speaks not just about confusion but also about the human limitation to grasp divine mystery. God's plans are often far beyond human reasoning.
But then we come across the central phrase of this Gospel: "He saw and believed." At the very beginning of John’s Gospel, when he and Andrew first follow Jesus, the Lord turns and asks: “What are you looking for?” They reply: Rabbi, where are you staying?” And Jesus says “Come and see.” (Jn 1:38-39)
Come and see
The same invitation, “Come and see” (Jn 1:38-39) is now fulfilled in the empty tomb. John, who came and saw three years earlier, now sees again—and believes anew. The first act of faith was in following Jesus; the second act of faith is in believing in the Risen Jesus, even before seeing Him alive.
Was an empty tomb enough? No, not for everyone. But for John, it was. He had stayed with Jesus even through the Cross. When reason fails, love sees. It is the intuition of love that allows John to see and believe before anyone else. The joy of Easter matures only on the soil of faithful love—a friendship that nothing, not even death, could destroy.
Is this kind of love possible today? Yes. Life teaches us that only God can gift us such deep and enduring love. It’s the testimony of countless saints, martyrs, and witnesses—even those who endured the gulags and persecutions of modern history. Their unshakable Easter faith echoes through the centuries.
Resurrection: God's Power to Begin Anew
The Resurrection is not just an event of the past—it is the ever-present power of God to make all things new. For the disciples locked behind closed doors, filled with fear and confusion, Jesus came and said, “Peace be with you.” The Risen Lord transforms despair into hope, doubt into faith, fear into courage. What was closed is now open. What seemed lost is now found.
Even when everything seems over, God begins again. That is the essence of Easter. As someone beautifully said: “Everything begins. Everything ends. But only God can start over.”
The Power of the Kerygma
The early Church understood this truth and proclaimed it boldly. The apostolic preaching, or Kerygma, centered on the Resurrection: “They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day... and we are witnesses… who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead” (Acts 10:39–42).
The Resurrection gave birth to a new people—a people of hope, a people who dared to love and forgive even in the face of persecution, because they had encountered the Risen One.
Jesus Is Our Easter
What does it mean to say Jesus is our Easter? It means He is our Passover, our passage from death to life. He has crossed over from suffering to glory—and he leads us with him. Easter is not only about Jesus’ Resurrection; it is about our resurrection—a new life in Him.
As St. Paul reminds us: “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is... Set your minds on things above... When Christ who is your life appears, you also will appear with him in glory.” (Col 3:1–4).
Garden of Eden vs The Garden near Mount Calvary
The Gospel passage from St. Matthew (Mt 28:1–10) narrates the beautiful scene of the Resurrection. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went early in the morning to the garden tomb to seek the Lord. The motif of the garden is central in salvation history. In the Old Testament, the first man disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden. But now, in the garden near Mount Calvary, we find the new Adam—Jesus—who offered Himself in perfect obedience to the Father.
In Eden, after Adam’s fall, God came searching for him, but Adam hid in fear, ashamed of his nakedness. In contrast, Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane asked, "Whom are you looking for?" And when He answered, “I am He,” those who came to arrest Him fell to the ground in fear. After the Resurrection, Jesus emerges from the tomb in triumph—making the extraordinary passage from death to life, reversing the tragic journey of humanity from life to death through sin. This is why the tomb of Jesus in Jerusalem remains open to this day—because He is not there. He is risen!
Points for Personal Reflection
Do I truly believe that Christ is alive and walks with me today?
How am I living the resurrection in my daily life—through joy, forgiveness, love, and hope?
Am I seeking the living among the dead—relying on worldly things to satisfy my heart—or am I turning to the Risen Lord for true life?
Like Mary Magdalene, John, and the apostles—have I allowed the Risen Christ to encounter me and transform me?
Faith does not explain the Resurrection; faith receives it as a mystery too great for words. It is not a myth or metaphor. It is not just an idea—it is a living reality. Christ is alive! And because He lives, we too shall live.
Dear brothers and sisters, on this Sunday of the Resurrection, my prayer is that you may experience the joy, the peace, and the transforming power of the Risen Lord. May He be recognized in your breaking of bread, in your sharing of life, in your acts of mercy and love.
He is Risen! He is truly Risen! Alleluia!
Happy Easter to you and your families - Amen.
