EASTER: Our FOREVER with GOD

HOMILY: Easter Sunday of the Lord’s Resurrection

John 20:1-9

9 April 2023 

Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA

 Not too long ago, 2,010 British adults were surveyed about their religious beliefs.  The research was commissioned by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) local radio for Palm Sunday of that year. The result was surprising. It revealed that only 17% of all people believe the Biblical account of the resurrection word-for-word. Of the Christians surveyed, only 31% believe the Bible word-for-word—a shockingly low percentage! The figures only increased to 57% when the respondents were Christians who attended church at least once a month. It is sad to think that possibly half of Catholics, Protestants and other Christians do not believe in the resurrection of Jesus. Despite the events of 2000 years ago, the growth of the church and the testament of the saints, many still doubt that the resurrection of Jesus Christ really took place.

In our time when most of the core Christian beliefs are challenged, it is doubly necessary to make an effort to better understand them. At each Sunday mass, we profess the tenets of our Christian faith by reciting the Creed. Sometimes we recite the Nicene Creed, sometimes the Apostles Creed. Among others, we hold in faith a belief in the resurrection of the dead. In the Apostles Creed we profess… “I believe in the resurrection of the body and life everlasting…” while in the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed we declare… “I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.”  These are basic for us Catholics. It is what our faith is built on — proof that Jesus spoke the truth that He is the Son of God, that He saved us from sin by His death, and by His resurrection, those who follow Him can look forward to the promise of everlasting life!

Now, if we really believe this, we should have no fear of death. Is anyone here eager to go first? (🤣) Yes, although we may have that fear,  true Christians have hope that we shall live in the presence of the Lord in the afterlife, and when Christ returns we shall experience the resurrection of the body. Sadly, for some of us, belief in the resurrection remains in theory only. For instance, those who experience the death of loved ones can not visualize their loved ones taking part in the resurrection of Jesus.  Instead of being assured that their departed loved ones are in Christ’s embrace in heaven, they dwell and wallow in their state of mourning.

In the gospel accounts of the resurrection, we note that the common reaction to Jesus’ rising from the dead was met with fear, confusion and doubt. In the gospel, we are told that Mary of Magdala, Peter and the disciple whom Jesus loved “did not yet understand” that Jesus “had to rise from the dead.” It took a while before they could fully grasp the reality of Christ’s resurrection, more so the call for them to become witnesses of this risen life. The First Reading from the Acts of the Apostles, shows us how the once guilt-stricken Peter now openly professes to convince others that Jesus is God’s Anointed One. Like the first disciples, we, too perhaps “do not yet understand”. Yet, we continue to struggle and open ourselves to the transforming grace of the Holy Spirit. Recall that the apostles first had to receive the Holy Spirit before they gained the courage to proclaim the miracle of the resurrection. The Holy Spirit is the key so that we no longer doubt the risen Christ and eventually testify ourselves to the truth of this holy mystery. To borrow the words of a priest-friend, “The proof of Christ’s Resurrection should not only be the empty tomb. Rather, every believer of the Risen Christ should be a living sign of his Resurrection. In fact, the only living proof of Christ’s resurrection is US – YOU and ME. By our self-giving, by our selfless love, by our humble service, by our living and dying for others, as Jesus did, we become a living sign of the Resurrection.”

St. Paul stresses: “But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.” (1 Corinthians 15:20) Jesus conquers death so that we, too, may share in His life!  The Easter mystery, however, does not unfold all at once. As Christians, we need to continually grow in our belief, understanding, and appreciation of the resurrection.  It is a mystery which we cannot fully understand but only accept with faith. No one really knows the details of this risen life with God. When it will happen and what we will look like, we do not know, but we have faith that there is definitely a future waiting for us in the presence of God the Father. Rejoice then, brothers and sisters for there is indeed everlasting life! Let’s be happy,  my friends, because we can find FOREVER in the Lord. Happy Easter!