Gospel reflection for April 20, 2025, Easter Sunday, the Resurrection of the Lord
Much uncertainty surrounded the disciples, families and other associates of Jesus on that Passover weekend after his Crucifixion. The week was a whirlwind of emotions, from the highs of the acclaim given to him as he entered the city a mere week ago, to the devastating events surrounding his arrest, sham trial and execution.
There were people, many of them who had been in the company of Jesus on numerous occasions, who were relieved that he was out of the picture. His teaching was way too much for them to handle, and his seeming disregard for the minutiae of the Mosaic Law and various traditions surrounding its application, was disruptive to the function of society. As one rumored to have messianic aspirations, it was better to quiet him and his followers so as not to raise the ire of the Roman occupiers.
One of his followers, Mary of Magdala, took off before sunrise on Sunday morning, to check on the tomb of Jesus. Jesus had been hastily interred in a typical Judean rock-cut tomb with a large stone at the entrance. While she did not know how the tomb would be moved, when she arrived at the tomb, she found the stone rolled back. Not willing to look inside, she presumed the body of Jesus had been stolen, fled the scene and ran to tell the disciples.
After spending time as a follower of Jesus, it raises some questions as to why Mary Magdalene arrived at only a nefarious explanation for the rolled away stone. She was not even curious enough to peek inside the tomb to see whether or not the tomb was empty, or what else might be seen there. The stone, which would have been a blockade for her when she got to the tomb if it were in place, still remains a stumbling block for her even when rolled away.
On Easter, 2024, Pope Francis reflected: “There are times when we may feel that a great stone blocks the door of our hearts, stifling life, extinguishing hope, imprisoning us in the tomb of our fears and regrets, and standing in the way of joy and hope.”
This is where the Magdalene was in her understanding of what she saw. She could not imagine that something else had happened other than grave robbers. Her message to the disciples was not one of hope that the promise of Jesus to return to them was fulfilled, but rather one of suspicion and fear.
Peter and the beloved disciple set off for the tomb, not heightened not by hope but by the same fear that had been alerted within them by Mary.
Fear, like joy and hope, is infectious. Yes, the disciples gathered together after the Crucifixion of Jesus, were afraid; afraid for their own lives, their immediate future, and caught up into the hysteria around them. They were disposed to fear, suspicion, and doubt.
Peter is also dealing with his own failure. His last public statements about Jesus were of denial. He had already succumbed to fear, not once but three times in succession over a short period of time.
The message of Jesus was never one of fear. How many times did they hear Jesus say, “do not be afraid?” How many times did Jesus promise them hope — even in the darkest moments?
Yet, now here they all are; overcome, not by hope but by fear.
How do we live our lives?
There are those who easily dismiss the Gospel and the lives of Christians as being unrealistic and overly focused on ideals. We love one another; we serve those in need, those who, by the world’s standards, should have no hope. Yet, in our own daily lives there are many of the followers of Jesus who prefer to promote fear, condemnation, and judgment over hope and joy.
This year of the Jubilee we are focused on hope — the true hope that comes from what we celebrate today — indeed every day — the glorification of Jesus Christ realized in the great Paschal Mysteries we have just celebrated.
Hope necessarily leads us to the depth of the joy of knowing in the surety of our faith, that our sins are forgiven; creation is set right with its creator; the Kingdom of God is present within us.
It is only in hope that we can exclaim: Alleluia! Christ is Risen!
Father Garry Koch is pastor of St. Benedict Parish, Holmdel.