Easter Sunday: What Happened In the Resurrection? (April 20, 2014)

There are two hypotheses on why Jesus' tomb was found empty: either Jesus' body was stolen by grave robbers (which were prevalent at that time), or by his disciples.  A trivia in today's Gospel dispels both:

"When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place." (John 20:6-8) 

Grave robbers would not have taken the time to unwrap the burial cloths and roll it neatly.  His disciples, on the other hand, would not have removed the cloths at all.

What happened in the Resurrection?

The Resurrection of Jesus is not just a resuscitation (as in the case of Lazarus, who eventually died), but that of transformation (Jesus lives forever).  

Resurrection refers not only to a physically risen Jesus, but to a spiritually Risen Jesus.

What can we learn from the Gospel accounts of the Resurrection?

Our Risen Lord was no longer bound by time and space. He could walk through walls. In the account of the “doubting Thomas” in John 20:19-29, the evangelist recounts that “the doors were locked” (stated twice, in fact); and yet Jesus suddenly appeared to them.

In the story of the two men on the way to Emmaus in Luke 24:1-53, we learn other aspects about our Risen Lord. We know that the tomb was empty and his body rose and changed (24:12). His body changed because when Jesus appeared to the two men on the road to Emmaus, he was not readily recognizable (24:32), and yet he could be seen and touched, and he ate bread and fish.  We also know that he was recognized when he started to talk about the Scriptures and when they broke bread (24:35), and that this encounter with him brought about much excitement and joy (24:33 and 41).

I’m afraid that is as much as we can know about Jesus Resurrected presence. (The disciples did not have a video camera then, so they could not be any more helpful).  But one thing we do know, Jesus was not just resuscitated; he was transformed to a glorious presence.

The closest analogy I can think of is that of a caterpillar that is transformed to a butterfly. It dies as a caterpillar and transforms to something totally new.

The Resurrection and the Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist

During the consecration, we believe that the bread and wine changes into the “body and blood” of Christ, but NOT his physical body/blood but to his glorified, resurrected, and spiritually risen body/blood.

Implications of the Resurrection in our Daily Life

We believe that Jesus (in his glorified, Resurrected and spiritual presence) is everywhere. Jesus is present when “two or three are gathered in his name,” when we perform works of mercy, when we preach the Word of God, and most effectively, when we celebrate the Eucharist.

We become intimately united with him when we receive him in communion. Christ is in us. We know we will share in this glorified, Resurrected and spiritual presence one day.

But we need not wait until that day. We live the way we live because Jesus himself is already in us.

How Can We Prove the Resurrection?

Simply, we prove that Jesus is risen and present by making others FEEL that Jesus is risen and present.  For example, imagine yourself encountering a person in abject poverty and preaching to him that Jesus is risen.  Imagine that same person telling you, "Prove it."  You could prove, or disprove, Jesus presence by what you would do next for that person.

Sources:
- Catechism for Filipino Catholics (CFC)
- Catechism of the Catholic Church
- Patambang, Myra A., Salibay, Esteban T., Jr., and Valera, Felinore Angelica H. Sacraments, Marriage And Family Life. Manila: Navotas Press, 2001

-----

John 20:1-9

On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.”

So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first. He bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple, who had arrived at the tomb first, also went in. He saw and believed. For they did not yet understand the Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.