Readings (Year A):
Acts 10:34a, 37-43
Psalms 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23
1 Corinthians 5:6b-8
John 20:1-9
Reflection: Be raised with Christ
A few years ago, I made my brother a homemade pizza. I got all the ingredients, prepared the dough, and put it in the oven. I am not sure what I did wrong, but the result was a hard piece of cardboard. Maybe I left it in the oven too long or the yeast was too old. I’m still waiting for a second chance. I thought about this story because the second reading today talks about yeast, leaven, and unleavened bread.
Today, the Christian community celebrates the resurrection of Jesus. The first reading from Acts calls on us to be witnesses to Jesus whom God anointed with the Holy Spirit and power. The second reading calls on us to be “raised with Christ”, to get rid of the old yeast of “malice and wickedness” and put in the new yeast of “sincerity and truth” and to seek out what is good and to work for healing. The Gospel of John tells the story about how Mary of Magdala was the first to tell the apostles that the tomb was empty.
Easter is a time to ask ourselves: how do we respond to the empty tomb? Mary thinks that someone stole the body; Peter enters the empty tomb but says nothing, as if he is still struggling with his faith. Only John, the beloved disciple, “sees and believes.” The gospel portrays John as the disciple who believes in the resurrection of the Lord. Yet, he did not see Jesus rise from the dead. He only saw that the tomb was empty, but that was enough for him. His faith made a quantum leap from empty tomb to resurrection.
The empty tomb is the source of our faith in the resurrection of Christ, and an invitation to those who already believe in Jesus to deepen their faith that death has not separated believers from Jesus Christ. We believe that death is not the end of our relationship with God, only the beginning of a new way of relating to God; one that breaks all barriers, even the barrier of death itself.
John is depicted as the model of what a disciple should be. Only in John’s gospel is he at the foot of the cross next to the mother of Jesus. He goes beyond his fear and stands by Jesus and his mother until the end. Our faith in the resurrection is not based on what science can proof to be true; rather it is based on Christ’s resurrection and our belief that the Spirit of God lives on in Jesus Christ. It lives on in his disciples who like John have the courage to do good for others and to work for healing of those in pain. Today, it lives on in the life of every believer who acclaims “Alleluia, Christ is risen.” This act of faith becomes credible to others when we are visible witnesses in the good works we do and the forgiveness we give to one another. Indeed, death does not separate us from Jesus Christ. Our preaching cannot be just with words; it is primarily by putting our faith into action; then Jesus rises in us and becomes known in our broken world.
Jesus is the yeast in my life, he helps me to leave my empty tomb and rise to my better self; he sees and believes in me. Jesus believes in my resurrection.
When the time is right, I will make my brother another pizza, and this time I will not forget to use some good yeast. Have a blessed Easter!
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