Theme: Belief in the Risen Lord will help us to make a convincing comeback
Scripture Readings: Acts 10:34, 37-43; Ps. 117:1-2, 16-17,22-23; Col. 3:1-4; Jn. 20:1-9
“I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” This is the famous quote of Michael Jordon, one of the legendary sports personality in the world. This quote has inspired many people in the world. Michael Jordon says that he succeeded because of his failures. He is known for turning failures into success today. His life was not full of success. He experienced lots of failures in his life. He was compared with his elder brother Larry, right from childhood, because he was better athlete. At the age of 15, he was not selected in the Varsity team over his best friend Leroy Smith for lack of height. His father was real mentor. He lost him when he was at the helm of the game. His father James Jordan Jr. was murdered on the road by thieves. In spite of all these failures, he is called successful. We have many such examples of people who have made a comeback from nothing. They are an inspiration to many.
Jesus’ resurrection is considered as one of the greatest comebacks in our human history. We have spent a day, meditating on the suffering and death of Jesus. We found him hanging on the cross like a criminal, amidst taunts and abuses, in the midst of two thieves, soldiers, darkness and in the feelings of loneliness and abandonment. He had two persons at his side: His mother and the beloved disciple. Everything seemed to be over. He was led in the tomb. A big stone was rolled over it. In the first reading, St. Peter tells Cornelius, the first convert from the gentile, the entire account of how Jesus was killed and hang on the cross. The sadness and darkness were there in the lives of all his disciples all through the next two days.
In the midst of this darkness, misery, brokenness, emptiness, nothingness; Mary Magdalene alone reaches to the tomb. There is no other person with her in the Gospel of John and the scriptures says that ‘it was still dark’. This darkness represents the state of all his disciples. Mary Magdalene finds the empty tomb. She presumes that someone has taken Jesus’ body away. She reports to St. Peter about it. There is progression in discovering the empty tomb. The beloved disciple notices the linen clothes of Jesus. Then, St. Peter notices the linen clothes and the head clothes. The misunderstanding of Mary Magdalene is removed as they see the linen cloth wrapped and the head cloth was not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. St. Peter had seen Lazarus who was called from the grave by Jesus. He had linen wrapping around him. The details of the grave cloths point to the misunderstanding of Mary that Jesus’ body was not stolen but he had conquered death.
The account of empty tomb is not the resurrection narratives. It only gave them a proof that Jesus was not found in the tomb. The disciples later experienced the Risen Lord. As St. Peter could tell Cornelius in the first reading that he had witnessed Jesus after the resurrection. He ate and drank with him.
Jesus was considered to be dead. He was led in the tomb. The soldiers were put in charge of the grave that they could keep watch over his body. Yet Jesus made dramatic comeback that no one could imagine. The turning point in the whole of human history. No one has made claim of resurrection till this date.
So the dispirited disciples who had ran away from Jesus were back preaching about his life, death and resurrection. The man who was set himself to persecute the followers of Jesus was talking to Colossians that they have life in Christ. The life of disciples too was changed. They were disheartened, dejected, feeling lonely and lost. Now they are ready to move out on his mission. They are ready to face any challenge. They want to became witnesses of Christ.
What is interesting to note in the Gospel of John is the person called the beloved disciple. He was present with Jesus during the hour of Jesus. He was present at the last supper, he was present at Jesus’ trial, then at the foot of the cross, with St. Peter in the empty tomb and while fishing with St. Peter. It is said that the beloved disciples saw and believed Jesus in the empty tomb itself. He did not have experience of the risen Lord. He did not see any spectacular things. He believed because he knew that the Lord would fulfil the promises. Jesus had promised them during his ministry that he would go and prepare place for them (Jn. 14:1-3). He had told them that he would not leave them orphaned. In little while, the world will not see him but they will see him. (Jn. 14: 18). He also told them that those who keep his word. His Father and Him would come and live with them. (Jn. 14:23) He had also said that he had conquered the world. (Jn. 16:33) When the beloved disciple saw the empty tomb, he simply believed that Jesus had conquered death. He was risen from the dead.
We are also facing a unimaginable situation this year due to Corona Virus. We are locked down in our own houses. The fear and anxiety has increasing so much so we do not want to go out. (the disciples were staying closed door for the fear of the Jews) The fear of getting infected or getting caught by the police. Many have lost the meaning of life. Some are committing suicide as they can’t bear the pressure. (Judas Iscariot) There is fear that the starvation will be another big problem. (Disciples went to fish) Many are returning to their homes. (Two disciples returning to Emmaus) The entire humanity has pushed into darkness. (Just like the group of disciples) It is done by the tiny virus. We can’t even see it by our naked eyes. (Sin) We have surrendered to it. We have not yet found medicine. We do not when will be available. Can we closely look at the entire situation in the world? Can we see some similarities with the situation of the disciples after the death of Jesus? Perhaps we are in similar situation and feelings.
Let us learn from the disciples in this situation. They tell us to trust in the Lord. They tell us to recall to our mind the promises of Jesus which are mentioned in the scriptures. St. Peter and Mary Magdalena could not understand the empty tomb because they did not understand the scriptures that Jesus must rise from the dead. But we know our Lord has risen from the dead. The death has no power over Jesus. He has conquered death. He has conquered sin. We need to be like the beloved disciple who knew the promises of Jesus. He believed in Jesus when he was in the empty tomb. We need to believe in the resurrection of Christ. It is the core of Catholic Faith. It is the hope of our salvation.
May we learn from Michael Jordon, the legend of Basketball sport and the beloved disciple as we celebrate the Easter. Michael Jordon teaches us that we should not give up when we fail. We must keep on trying. The same applies to our relationship with Jesus. We might have failed in our relationship with Jesus. It is not the end. Jesus waits for us. We can return to him with full confidence that we will embrace us. Secondly, we must learn from the beloved disciple to believe in Jesus’ promises that he will never leave us orphaned. He has conquered the world, sin and death.
May this Easter infill within us the spirit of Christ to make a comeback from the fight with Corona Virus. As the resurrection of Jesus helped the disciples to return their proper calling. Let us trust in the resurrection of Jesus that our faith in Jesus will help us to make a convincing comeback from the hopeless situation of COVID 19.
Fr. Alex D’Mello
