Jesus has risen, as He said He would

EASTER VIGIL OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD

[ Matthew 28: 1-10 ]

   Jesus bowed His head and gave up His spirit. [Jn 19: 30]

Look to the CROSS, our HOPE is there!
[Pope Francis, 5 Apr 2023]

All was lost, all hope was crushed, all sense of the future was dashed, all turned silent, gloomy and dark – right after Jesus breathed His last, taken down from the Cross, and laid in the tomb. Like all funerals, the dead is left to rot in the tomb; the living must carry on, move on and live on. Everyone is trying to cope with the sense of hopelessness, helplessness, exhaustion and loss.

   On the third day…

It was very early in the morning of the first day of the week, the disciples of Jesus were nowhere to be seen, yet there was this band of faithful women heading to the tomb where Jesus was laid.

The women did what 'the custom had prescribed'.

Surely these faithful women were feeling disappointed, dejected, depressed and defeated, yet they did not just moan, mourn and wail, they wanted to do something and they did something – something that seemed silly, something that seemed futile in the eyes of others, something unable to turn the clock back, something unable to salvage the loss of Jesus – they brought along with them spices to anoint the body of Jesus as the custom has prescribed.

Silly, futile, meaningless and useless the intention and action of the women may seem, yet they were rewarded with a life-changing encounter with the Risen Lord! We have much to learn from these great women:

   1) Do our best and leave the rest to God.

   St Francis of Assisi advises us to ‘start by doing what is necessary, then do what is possible, and suddenly we are doing the impossible’. Yes, when we are in despair and in spiritual desolation, we must not tempt ourselves to do the impossible, instead we must be disciplined enough to do what is necessary, what is important and what is possible – ‘doing all that righteousness demands’ [Mt 3: 15].

   The ‘Just-Do-It’ attitude of the women is the shining example for all of us to, not just moan and complain, but to get our act together and do something. Where there is hatred, we can always sow love; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy; where there is injustice, righteousness; where there is war, peace… [cf. Prayer of St Francis] There is always something we can do; there is always something we must do.

   When God seems to be far away and absent from our life, things which may seem silly, futile, meaningless and useless – the Sacraments, Scripture readings, prayer routines, spiritual exercises, personal devotions and penances etc. – become our lifeline through which we cling and hang onto God. Never belittle the power of a disciplined spiritual life and an ordered spiritual routine. For when all is dark and gloomy, when we cannot feel God, these become our only sure connection with God. St Augustine of Hippo rightly says that, “Protect order, and order will protect you.”

   2) When we follow Christ, we do not turn to see who is following (and who is not).

   We must not abandon Jesus for Barabbas (our own sinful inclinations) or because of Judas (the sins of other individuals in the Church).

   The Pope comes and goes, the priest comes and goes, lay leader comes and goes…; but Jesus and His Holy Church remain. Like the band of women, they did what is necessary and what is possible, within their capability and ability – they did not turn to see who was coming along and who was not. 

   OUR FAITH IS IN JESUS CHRIST who has died, is now risen, and will come again. OUR FAITH IS IN JESUS CHRIST who is the same yesterday, today and forever [Heb 13: 8]. If OUR FAITH IS TRULY AND GENUINELY ANCHORED IN JESUS CHRIST, we will not be shaken or swept away even when trials come, tribulations strike, turbulences rise and temptations overwhelm.

Jesus Christ is the same
yesterday, today and forever.
[Heb 13: 8]

   3) “Who will roll away the stone for us?”

   What is the stone that is pressing against our hearts and weighing us down? Who will roll it away?

   God will.

God will roll the stone away for us.

   OUR LORD IS RISEN; He has conquered sin and death. OUR LORD IS RISEN; He has rolled away the stone and come out.  As long as we faithfully keep to our spiritual routine (doing what is necessary, what is important and what is possible) and co-operate with God’s grace, He will roll away the stone for us.

   Like Lazarus [Jn 11], we are entombed in our own hearts by sin, selfishness, self-centredness and fear. Like Lazarus, we can be sure that Jesus will come and roll away the stone of the tomb of our hearts, and we will receive new life and we will be set free.

Let our fervent prayer be:

   “O Risen Jesus, roll away the stone for us, give us new life, set us free, and let us live for You.”

Let us also pray that God’s justice, peace, truth and love may prevail in Ukraine, Sri Lanka and Nicaragua.

   [Note: This Gospel reflection was adapted from previous reflection dated 3 Apr 2021.]