Easter Sunday Reflection, GOSPEL READING: JOHN 20:1-9 
April 9, 2023
KEVIN GAFFNEY, RCIA INSTRUCTOR
 
In each of the Gospel reading options, we feel the tension between fear/confusion and joy/revelation.  Jesus’ friends are distraught and confused at Jesus’ death and then, in each account, Jesus opens their eyes in some way to the truth of the Resurrection.  The message becomes clear…Do not be afraid, but rather go and share the Good News of the Resurrection.  How do such tensions play out in your life?
How does the Risen Christ give you the courage to believe in and share the Good News of Easter?  How does Jesus open your eyes to His Presence in your daily life?

On that first Easter morning we see the disciples who were “scattered,” all now closed off and for the most part, hiding from public view. They are no doubt confused, grieving, fearful, and unsure of themselves. Who could they trust? How could this have happened? Maybe even wondering what fate awaits them for their trust and friendship with Jesus?
 
The Roman authority have taken steps to secure the tomb, indifferent to the disciples’ love of their friend.  The high priests who lied about Jesus at his trial sit secure in their positions.  They are content with their indifference and animosity for an innocent man who had been executed. The morning is for the most part seemingly about getting back to normal in that region and maintaining the “status quo.” Dismay, confusion, uncertainty, indifference- where is the love that Jesus preached? Where is the meaning? Will anyone at least provide some loving comfort?

In John’s gospel we see the answer to these questions. There is yet another person preparing for the day. Early in the morning is Mary Magdala. She is not driven by fear but of pure tender loving kindness. While all of the others have closed their doors and others their hearts, she is busy preparing a mix of local spices to lovingly anoint Jesus’ body. She then leaves the comfort of her safe place to walks toward Jesus’ tomb without fear. 

I marvel at how ordinary this seems. No parade, no music, no large crowds cheering. Just like Jesus’ birth, no fanfare. On the day of his birth only shepherds keeping watch over their flock were around. There was no room for his Mom and Dad in the inn. Except in the manger, where only farm animals witnessed his birth.  On this morning, most others are busy, concerned with themselves like any other day. They go about doing their business unnoticed. Some disciples don’t go with Mary Magdala because it’s not important, convenient, or safe for them. Others don’t go because they are fearful and unfeeling. But still Mary goes to the tomb to face her fear. However, she is consumed by a loving spirit.

She arrives and sees the stone has been rolled away. She worries that someone has taken Jesus. She briefly encounters someone she thinks is the gardener, an everyday person one may see, or not see, nor want to see, or even pass by.  A gardener just doing his work; nothing special to see here.
 
Remember Jesus loved the everyday people. He also loved the lowly and the down trodden, the people who go unnoticed. Mary runs to tell Peter to come to the tomb. She finds Peter and John and they go with her to the tomb. The gospel indicates that John arrived first but did not go in. He deferred to Peter. After all Peter was a leader. In the past Peter would go head long into situations. He was the only one to leap out of the boat to walk to Jesus in the storm. He sank, so what? At least he’d tried! Why not go in the tomb first, Peter? Let us know how it works out. 

Peter goes in and sees the empty tomb and the burial linens neatly placed but doesn’t understand. John enters and sees and he does understand. Eternal love has found the way.  Love not death is the lesson. Some will come to understand and others will not.  Some will believe and some will doubt. God doesn’t force us. 

If God forced us, then where or how is faith developed? That’s our faith at work. Just like Jesus’ birth and his life, some will believe and some will not. Later on the road to Emmaus, two disciples don’t recognize the man who walks with them until the traveler counsels them with the good news. Still again, a man along the shore cooking a meal on charcoal fire who invites the disciples to breakfast. He took the bread and gave it to them, and in like manner the fish. They then see clearly it is the risen Christ. Love has found us and made a way to blessings and redemption.
 
So here we are. Love and life has made a way. We walk together as a faith people. Our faith, Catholic, means universal. We celebrate our Easter morning and may grieve our hurts, fears, and losses. But the tomb is empty, the stone is rolled away. The linen bindings are folded and left behind.
 
Can I take comfort in the many faces I see in a day? The old, the young, the everyday person, like the cook, the gardener, or the traveler. The risen Christ may be revealing himself and asking us to take notice. To love and notice more gently. Am I seeing Jesus in everyone I meet? Even if they take my parking space, drive slow in the fast lane, cut in front of me in line, turn their car without signaling, interrupt me when I’m busy, or gossip about something I might have said or done, discriminated against me in some way?

This Easter I want to feel the hope and revelation that the Apostle John felt. I want to be fearless like Mary Magdala. I want to be focused and have singularity of vision. I want to have my eyes opened to follow through with my faith in a more loving, fearless, and productive way.  My hope this Easter is to be open to recognize the risen Christ in people and situations that may seem ordinary and common.