Acts 10:34a, 37-43/ Psalm 118/ Colossians 3:1-4/ John 20:1-9
Theme: Witnessing comes from the resurrection experience
Today, we reflect upon the post-Easter experiences of the risen Christ and the fruit of our redemption in him. Therefore, the readings remind us that the resurrection does not mean that the earthly ministry of Jesus becomes a thing of the past; a phase now finished with.
Rather, it is through the resurrection that all that Christ stood for in his earthly life namely his word or self-communication of God, his healing activities and the like can now continue in the Church. In other words, what Jesus stood for continues.
In the first reading, we see the continued work of Christ in his Church after his resurrection. This continued work of Christ was made possible as a result of the witnesses of the apostles. Peter’s address to Cornelius and his household was preceded by the baptism of Cornelius and his entire household; a witness which was made possible by the resurrection of Jesus.
Peter reminds them that “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem…” (Acts 10:38-39).
Witnessing comes as a result of experience. Therefore, Peter makes it clear that it is only those who experience Jesus, who have the mandate to witness. The condition for witnessing is clearly stated namely those chosen by God as witnesses and those who ate and drank with him. “But God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead” (Acts 10:40-41).
Again, anyone who witnesses must be given the mandate to do so. Luke puts it succinctly “ He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead … and that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name” (Acts 10:42-43).
Thus, forgiveness of sin is at the very heart of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Therefore, any Gospel that does not preach forgiveness of sin or does not make the forgiveness of sin its priority is not the true gospel and must be rejected outright.
Where there is forgiveness of sin, there lies our hope. Thus the second reading reminds us “So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God” (Colossians 3:1).
Just as the first reading reminds us about the fact that witnessing demands mandate, the gospel reading affirms the fact that the Apostles received this mandate from the resurrection experience. The attitude of Mary Magdalene and the rest of the disciples when they heard the news about Christ’ resurrection suggest that they came to faith in the resurrection gradually; a progression from fear to doubt; from evidence to faith.
Mary Magdalene’ faith, like the rest of the disciples, was not extinguished. It was only eclipsed. The light was still there, but it was covered; a spiritual condition that saw them all move out of the shadows into light.
Firstly, we are told that early on the first day of the week while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and she found that the stone has been removed from the tomb. “ So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved and said to them, “ They have taken the Lord out of the tomb and we do not know where they have laid him” (John 20:2). Fear led Mary Magdalene to hastily conclude that Jesus has been stolen even though she did not enter the tomb.
The reaction of the disciples when they heard the news also affirms the doubt in their minds. We are told that they run to the tomb and to their utter dismay, they saw an empty tomb. Both Peter and John deserve the credit for having the courage to run to the tomb when they did not know what lay ahead of them.
However, when they reached the tomb, they saw that the clothes were carefully folded. What kind of faith did Peter and John have at that stage in their spiritual experience? They had faith based on evidence.
Those of us who live centuries later cannot examine the evidence, for the material evidence is no longer there for us to see. Therefore, the truth of Easter does not depend on an empty tomb any longer for this generation. Rather, faith in the word of God is now our evidence.
In the Life of Jesus I have learned that we should never look up to human beings for anything but God alone. Trusting in God is worth it. Jesus will raise all dead hopes back to life this Easter.
In sum, the mandate to witness to the resurrection has been given to every baptised Christian. Jesus commanded his disciples “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…” (Matthew 28:19-20).
Unlike the disciples who saw the empty tomb and believed, our evidence today is the Word of God. May our generation find hope in the words of Jesus to Thomas, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe” (John 20:29b).
Source : Rev. Fr. Aaron Agbeshie Agorsor
