Easter Sunday 2020

There is one thing in common all four gospels tell us about the resurrection of Jesus: when the women went to the tomb of Jesus, they found it empty.

Nobody saw how the resurrection occurred. No one saw Jesus coming out of the tomb. None of his followers or disciples were with him at the moment of his resurrection. Jesus had been with his disciples day and night during his public ministry. His disciples and followers had seen all his works and heard all his teachings. But, then, why did Jesus not allow his disciples to watch him rise from death? At least, he could wait for Mary Magdalene and other women to arrive on that morning of his resurrection so that they may see him walking out of the tomb, couldn’t he? Why was he so impatient? Why didn’t he allow anyone to be an eyewitness to the moment of his resurrection? Wouldn’t that make future evangelization of the following generations much easier?

As St Peter tells us in the second reading today, Jesus appeared not to everyone in Jerusalem. He did not show up to Pontius Pilate. He did not visit Herod. He did not come to the Temple to see Caiaphas the chief priest. But he only appeared to his selected people. Why didn’t he make his resurrection an undeniable historical fact by the evidence of his resurrected body to the general public? That would make future missions much more successful, wouldn’t it?

In our times, it becomes common to watch the Mass on screen. What do you see there? Can you see Jesus present in the proclamation of Scriptures? Or can you observe the bread and wine turn into the flesh and blood of Christ? Can you see Christ being sacrificed at the hill of Calvary? What do you actually watch? What do you see?

Our Lord didn’t allow anyone to see his being rising from the dead, because it was not something eyes can see. A true mystery cannot be observed by eyes but should be revealed to the mind. The resurrection of Christ truly occurred in time, but the Lord has to reveal it to those minds he has prepared before. The mystery of the Eucharist can be only revealed when we worship the Lord in person. Revelation is different from visual observation. Revelation is God’s act on our mind and heart, not our mental or sensory perception.

In this pandemic, we cannot gather to worship our Lord even on this greatest solemnity of our faith. Then, are we shut off from the mystery of the resurrection? Are we cut off from the grace of the Holy Eucharist? Brethren, you should not be discouraged. Remember how Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene and to other disciples. He was not found where he was supposed to be. Rather, he found his disciples. He revealed himself to his chosen ones according to his will and his plan. When we think we cannot find him, Christ will find us and will reveal his mysteries to us. It’s because he is not dead but alive. Even when we are dead in our disappointment and agony, Our living God will reveal his mysteries and his presence to us.