Easter Sunday

[Scripture Readings: Acts10:34a, 37-43; Col 3:1-4; Jn 20:1-9 ]

Mary Magdalene came to the tomb, while it was still dark. John is the only evangelist that places the discovery of the empty tomb in total darkness, in the midst of night. The resurrection took place in the darkness of the first day, before there was any light.

In Genesis, on the first day, there was darkness, and God said, “Let there be light.” And there was light, and God saw that it was good. Now, at the resurrection, there is another “first day.” It also begins in total darkness and dawns in the dazzling light of the risen Christ. A new creation has begun. The light of this new creation shines on believing hearts. It is seen by love and faith.

Mary Magdalene has love, but the gift of faith has not yet been awakened within her. She only sees an empty tomb. Jesus was crucified, and now they have even taken away his body. She is surrounded by darkness. Then she tells Peter and the disciple whom Jesus loved, that the body of Jesus has been taken away. There is darkness outside, and there is darkness within their hearts. Peter, who has not stopped weeping bitterly over his triple denials, runs with the other disciple through the darkness to the tomb, and Peter, like Mary Magdalene, sees that it is empty. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved goes into the empty tomb. He sees and he believes. The dawn of the first day in a new creation rises over the horizon of his inner darkness and fills him with the dazzling light of faith in the resurrection.

The beloved disciple represents all of us. We live in the midst of the world as living sacraments reflecting the light of the new creation. Our hearts are on fire with love for the risen Christ, and his light shines in our hearts and through our faces. The light of this first day in the new creation never sets, and never dims. The resurrection of Christ reveals that death is not the end. It shines beyond death and shows us that death is a passing from a life of faith to a life of seeing, from life in the old creation to the fullness of life within the new creation.

The resurrection appearances of Christ will uncover the existence and presence of this new creation. At dawn Mary Magdalene will see the risen Christ with her own eyes. Then she will proclaim: “I have seen the Lord!” When we die, we too will cry out: I see the Lord and the new creation!

Today we see and taste the goodness of the Lord by faith and love. Later on, when we have finished sharing in the paschal mystery of Christ’s death, we hope share in the mystery of his resurrection, when we will see him with our own eyes. We will see God, and live!

Let us now give thanks; let us taste and see that the Lord is good.