SUNDAY MARCH 31, 2024
EASTER SUNDAY B
Acts 10:34,37-43
Colossians 3:1-4
John 20:1-9
CHRIST RISING FROM DEATH USHERS MAN INTO A NEW LIFE.
The hope of life is restored. Joy is fully given. Man rejoices that the glimpse of hope is restored. The death of Christ can never be in vain. But It has destroyed our former sinful inclinations and it restores our union with God and ultimately it reconciles us with our God. And his rising from the dead, restores our hope, our fears in life are removed and we can confidently follow, make sacrifices for our salvation, be focused on this journey of life and never waver even though the trials and temptations of life are presents because hope is restored.
The event of Mary Magdalene visiting the tomb and discovering that Jesus was no longer there and her report to the disciples that the body is taken away is the testimony. The empty tomb is the evidence and the linen clothes are all exhibits that death is conquered. The power of the grave is overcome by the power of the resurrection. Life springs from the fount of life itself.
Peter and the other disciples had a reset of the story. Yes!! The body was not stolen, it has risen just as he said. The impossible, the incomprehensible has been comprehended. The human mind can now understand the mysteries which was before hidden.
The life of Jesus as traced back in the first reading from the acts of the Apostles sees Jesus as from a different stock, a man filled with goodness, carrying out good works, Restoring humanity to health, teaching the right course of things, directing humanity to rise from the dungeon of darkness into a wonderful life. Yes, Peter spoke in Favour of Jesus, explaining the mysteries he had witnessed but did not understand before now. But now, after the resurrection event, his eyes were opened and he can testify that his three years with Jesus as a disciple was not futile or in vain. He testifies that Jesus is indeed the expected messiah.
Saint Paul’s letter to the Colosians details what the resurrection event tells us. It is to usher us into a new life of glory, a blessed life of the elect. A life where our lives are hidden with Christ in God. A life that is new, where the old passes away and newness is ushered in.
We need therefore to rise to this new life, where joy overcomes sadness, where happiness takes the upper hand, where righteousness overcomes iniquity and hope is restored and motivates the life of glory. A new life in Christ where striving for holiness must be preferred and sought more vigorously with the great expectation of salvation.
Let us begin this new life for it is a life in Christ. Indeed it is my life in Christ. It cannot be taken away from us. For victory is ours in this life.
God our Father, we are grateful for the grace of this new life in the resurrection of Christ. Grant us greater understanding of this mystery and may we be helped to overcome lukewarmness, sinful inclinations and all forms of backsliding. May the glory of this new life grow within us until we attain eternal life through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Fr Norbert Uchuno
