SIGNS OF HIS PRESENCE
Easter Sunday of the Lord’s Resurrection

1 Reading: Acts of the Apostles 10: 34a,  37-43
Psalm: This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.
2 Reading: 1 Corinthians  5 : 6b – 8
Gospel: John  20 : 1 – 9

Alleluia, May the risen Lord breathe on our minds and open our eyes that we may know him in the breaking of the bread, and follow him in his risen life. Amen.

It was in the same spirit that Mary Magdalene came before dawn on the first day of the week to the tomb of Jesus. She had witnessed his suffering; she had been present at the cross when he breathed his last. Her life had been profoundly changed by this man, (the scripture tells us that Jesus had cast seven demons out of Mary.) He had set her free and she had reason enough to love him. So, she came to honor him, maybe to prepare his body, or simply in her love she could not let go and needed to be near her Lord.

When Mary saw the first sign of resurrection, the stone that had been rolled away, she did not understand. The two disciples she hurried to tell ran to the tomb. John was hesitant to enter the tomb. Peter went straight in, but even though he saw signs of the resurrection, the folded burial cloths, he did not understand. It is only when John saw, really saw, that he makes that leap of faith and believed.

The first reading tells us that after Jesus resurrection He only appeared to those who were his disciples, who could really see the signs. It is these people who had an encounter with the Risen Lord, who “ate and drank with him after his resurrection.” They are the ones who had their lives totally turned around by Jesus. Peter says that they were chosen to be witnesses to the resurrection.

Why are we here today? Maybe like Mary to express our love for Jesus. John stood at the edge of the tomb, not daring to enter. Is that us? Are we reluctant to go any further with our faith; are we afraid of where it might lead? Or are we like Peter, not aware of the signs of God’s presence, to the signs of the resurrection in our own lives?

Eventually, John, Mary and Peter move on from their grief and confusion, John “sees and believes.” Mary recognizes the Lord in the garden when he speaks her name. Peter moves from confusion to fearless faith and witness. Where do we stand?

As Christians, we are not distant admirers. Paul tells us: “We have been brought back to true life with Christ.” Through our Baptism, we actually share his journey through death and new life. And so, like Peter we seek to be witnesses, witnesses to what he has done for us. By faith, we acknowledge his resurrection, we continue to eat and drink with him, and we hope to share his glory. But if we are to be credible witnesses, we need to have that first-hand encounter with the risen Lord, we need to see the signs of his presence in our lives, as John, Mary and Peter did. We can only bear witness to what we have personally experienced. If we love Christ, if we follow his way of love, then he will lead us to see and believe. He will enable us to become powerful witnesses to his resurrection, and to our own, to the glory which awaits all those who put their trust in him.

A Blessed Easter to you!