What Happened in the Resurrection (Easter Sunday, March 27, 2016)

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?

First, 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.

Second, Jesus still had a body that people can touch and see, but this body has been transformed.  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, the presence of the Resurrected Jesus by what you would do next for that person.  If you turn your back, how can that person believe that Jesus is risen?


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 8:1-11 The Woman Caught in Adultery (5th Sunday of Lent, March 13, 2016)

Gospel:

Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area, and all the people started coming to him, and he sat down and taught them. Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery and made her stand in the middle. They said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” They said this to test him, so that they could have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger. But when they continued asking him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he bent down and wrote on the ground. And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders. So he was left alone with the woman before him. Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She replied, “No one, sir.” Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”

Gospel Trivia:

This is the only passage where Jesus writes.  What did he write?

Biblical scholars speculate that it could be:

- a reference to a passage in Jeremiah 17:13: "Those who turn away from God shall be written on the earth (referring to dry parched earth, away from springs of water)",

or

- a show of disinterest (as when one is doodling),

or

- maybe, Jesus was writing the names of the people who also had an affair with that woman.

The latter is probable because in Jewish law, the first stone meant to kill a person guilty of a major crime is cast by the first hand witnesses.  The implication, therefore, is if you are a witness, how did you happen to be a witness?  And if you are a witness, how can you be without guilt?  The witness must have known of the reputation of the woman, and he might have been snooping.

But Jesus' message is something more powerful than not judging others, but the importance of change; and that conversion can happen when there is someone who will accept a guilty person regardless of his/her wrongdoing.  

That’s the way it is in business, or parenting, or in our spiritual life.  It is the boss who did not fire you after you committed the biggest blunder in your life who changed you.  Your parents who loved you even though you came home one early morning after your car figured in an accident.  Your teacher who did not give up on you, the friend who did not abandon you, and so on.  These are the people who changed us.

In the unforgettable words of St. Augustine: "At the end, only two are left: the miserable woman and Mercy."

Reference:
- Nil Guillemette, SJ, Hungry No More (Makati: St. Paul's Publications, 1989), pp. 110-112.
- Various lecture notes from Masteral course in Maryhill School of Theology.

Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 The Prodigal Son (4th Sunday of Lent, March 6, 2016)

Gospel:

Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 

So to them Jesus addressed this parable: “A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father, ‘Father give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’ So the father divided the property between them. After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine. And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any. Coming to his senses he thought, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’ 

So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.’ But his father ordered his servants, ‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.’ 

Then the celebration began. Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean. The servant said to him, ‘Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him. 

He said to his father in reply, ‘Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’ He said to him, ‘My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’”

Gospel Trivia:

The following gospel trivia will reveal the truly profound meaning of this familiar gospel passage:

- The audience of Jesus when he told this parable were two opposing kind of audiences: the sinner and tax collectors (who were considered the worst kind of sinners), and the Pharisees and scribes (who were generally considered the pure, the clean, and the saved because they followed the laws to the letter). 

- The criticism of the Pharisees was that Jesus “eats” with sinners. Eating with someone is a serious expression of one’s fellowship with that person, and violates the rabbinical rule of not associating with the wicked.

- Note that the younger son, upon running out of money, decides to finally return to his father. But did you notice that he had a spiel ready which goes: “Father I have sinned against heaven and against you, I no longer deserve to be called your son, treat me as you would treat one of your hired servants.” 

While this could mean a sign of humility, in the Jewish context, it also meant that this was a face saving plan of the son -- being a hired servant, he could earn a decent living, remain independent and be able to secure a future without asking favors of anybody. (By doing so, the son's approach was totally legalistic, and the Pharisees knew that Jesus was trying to hint at their legalistic approach to salvation).

Note that when the son was ready with his spiel, the Father butts in and does not allow him to say the latter part of his sentence which asks that he be treated as a hired servant. For the father, the son’s intention to return, regardless of his motivations, was sufficient. 

- Finally, Jesus implies that the elder son was like the Pharisees who were more concerned about the legal obligations of the son to the father. The Pharisees believe that the way to the Father is through following a set of laws.

Making up for your sins is not a requirement before the Father embraces you.  Just come back. This is not to disparage good works, for indeed they are pleasing to God and completes our transformation; so long as one does not treat them as God’s prerequisites and conditions. 

References:

- Nil Guillemette, SJ, Parables for Today (Makati: St. Paul Publications, 1987), p. 238-240.