Risen

Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you”.

John 20:19 NKJV

Everything came to fulfillment with the empty tomb and the stone rolled away. What was supposed to be the end turned out to be a new beginning that has yet to come to an end, as the cry “Risen” echoes. This is Easter: remembering and embracing the fact that, after dying, Jesus rose again. What is the point of believing in the Incarnation of the Son—in his becoming like us and dying to atone for our sin in God’s eyes—if we then fail to open ourselves to eternity? The Risen Jesus, and nothing else, is the beating heart of Christianity, its central, foundational aspect, as the Gospels narrate, even if we read them in reverse, in chronological-biographical order with respect to Jesus’ life. But, in reality, the Resurrection is the starting point of Christian history. We must acknowledge how Western Christianity is not very sensitive to this event, preferring to reflect on the birth of Christ and His death on the cross. Yet without the Resurrection, His promises would have no value or power. Having risen, His words then take on an entirely new meaning. We then understand Thomas’s request, who wants to believe but needs proof (John 20:25).

John, aware of the difficulty many face in this regard, insists on faith as the necessary means to receive eternal life and see the glory of God, to the point that the final verses clearly tell us that the purpose of the entire writing is to contribute to faith—and to believing that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God—the only means to have life. He does not overlook the episode of Thomas and the accompanying exhortation of the risen Christ to “Do not be unbelieving, but believing” (20:27-29), even though, at the same time, he presents the wounds of his hands and side to the doubting disciple. Earlier, it had been Martha who had to face the Lord asking her if she believed in His words (11:25-27). Mark, however, addresses human weakness by presenting the dialogue of a father seeking deliverance for his son possessed by a spirit. “And Jesus said to him, ‘If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.’ Immediately the boy’s father, crying out with tears, said, ‘I do believe; help my unbelief’” (Mark 9:23-24). When faith needs to be realized in reality, then one must confront one’s own unbelief: “If you can…”, to will, to be able, to believe! Blessed be the Lord who comes to meet us and helps us.

Dear reader, do not remain seated at the table. Today it is our duty to approach the tomb and re-discover that He whom we thought was dead has instead risen. Like the women who went there, you and I must take note of the words spoken to them by the two angels: “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen” (Luke 24:5-6). Thus the words spoken from the cross to the repentant criminal take on their full meaning and are fulfilled: “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43), piercing the clouds of earthly existence and revealing the eternal dimension of the words previously addressed to the disciples: “I am going to prepare a place for you…” (John 14:2). After the resurrection, the disciples were bewildered, but Jesus did not delay in appearing to them, accompanied by the only message capable of dispelling fear and easing tension: “Peace be with you.” The final appearance reported by Matthew concludes with the words: “Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.” Let us look beyond the earthly realm, for as Paul declared: “If we have hope in Christ only for this life, we are the most pitiable of all people” (1 Corinthians 15:19). Let us indeed rejoice, for a glorious future awaits us. Even today He visits us with His peace. Let us open ourselves to faith beyond the tomb and behold Christ, our Passover.

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Weekly Bible Reading Plan #15

April 06, 1 Samuel 4–6; Luke 9:1–17

April 07, 1 Samuel 7–9; Luke 9:18–36

April 08, 1 Samuel 10–12; Luke 9:37–62

April 09, 1 Samuel 13–14; Luke 10:1-24

April 10, 1 Samuel 15-16; Luke 10:25-42

April 11, 1 Samuel 17-18; Luke 11:1-28

April 12, 1 Samuel 19-21; Luke 11:29-54