He is not here, but is risen

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

This is the season of celebration, victory and joy.  Celebrate : because we are no more slaves but children of the mighty God. Victory :  because Christ has won over the power of darkness and redeemed us. Be joyful to go and proclaim the Gospel to all corners of the world.

Even as we have gone through these lenten times, we read the Gospel and mediated on the cross. The cross is the embodiment of God’s love on man, for everyone, without exception. As Jesus suffered on the cross, He prayed for His tormentors and critics too, to be forgiven. This is the season of mixed feelings: more on suffering and persecution and finally the joy of seeing the risen Christ.

Like many others, Mary Magdalene was also grieving for Jesus. On the first day of the week, she went to the tomb early. While it was still dark, she saw that the tomb stone had been moved away. It has been written that Jesus had cast away seven demons (Luke 8:2) from her. She was among the several women who were redeemed from their sinful life. Many women followed Jesus wherever He went. Even some powerful women or spouse of high ranking officials / rich men of those days accepted Him as their saviour, heard Him and supported Him in many ways in His ministry.  It is written in the Gospel of Luke that it was a group of women who went early to the tomb on the first day of the week bringing the spices. It was the swarm of women lined up on the streets,  who cried as Jesus carried  the cross to Golgotha. Many occasions it was the women who came first , eagerly to hear and receive the Gospel from Jesus. The list is endless……They all adored him as any girl would adore her father always.

However, among all, the devotion of Mary Magdalene stands out.  Even though she was of a sinful background, this young woman once redeemed, faithfully followed Jesus wherever He went, even on the day of His crucifixion. Redeemed from the power of darkness during the brim of her youth, she saw the light who is Jesus and her life became joyful. We do not know whether she witnessed while Jesus was sharing with His disciples about His forthcoming suffering, death on the cross and His resurrection…

Suddenly, these joyful days of going with Jesus, listening to Him as He preached, witnessing the everyday miracles, seeing His ever smiling face, all came to an end on the cross. It appeared as though the tomb was the final resting place for such a wonderful person and teacher whom she loved as her dear father. The darkness which fell on the cross during His death fell on her heart also, breaking it to pieces. As the women prepared the spices as per their custom, she waited on the Sabbath day and jumped over to the tomb even before it was dawn on the first day of the week. We do not know what was going on in her broken heart and troubled mind, but the devotion and love for Jesus would not allow her to rest.

As she saw the stone was moved, the tomb open and that it was empty, her broken heart further melted. This story unfolds very beautifully in the Gospel of John: She alerted the disciples. Peter and John ran to the tomb only to see the cloth used to wrap His body was neatly folded and kept in a corner. Even though it is written that “the other disciple” went in saw and he believed (John 20:8), it is further said that they still did not know the Scripture that He must rise again from the dead. So they went back home.

But Mary stayed back, crying in anguish. As she looked into the tomb, she saw Angels who asked her : “Woman, why are you weeping?” Forgetting that they are Angels of God, she tells them that someone has taken away her Lord.

Then suddenly she saw Him!  But as it is written, she did not know He was Jesus. So she asked Him assuming Him to be the gardener: “Aiyyah, someone has moved away my Lord. Please tell me  where  they have taken Him so that I will go and take Him”. Then Jesus said “ Mary”. Whatever the earlier events which failed to open her eyes, this one word did. It opened her heart, she said:  “Rabboni”. (Teacher).

About thirty years ago, I was working in a neighbouring state staying in the fourth floor of an apartment with my wife and young son. One day while riding a curved road on the bike, I fell down and badly sprained my leg. Those were the days of “inland letters” and “trunk calls” and we had no phone at home. Somehow my aged father learnt about my ill health through my elder sister. Next day, early morning at about five, even when the dawn was not broken, I heard a meek voice from faraway : “thambi…thambi..” (by how he always used to call me. If I am called by my first name, then I will immediately understand it is for admonishing).Half asleep, and in pain, I told my wife that my father has come to see me. Presuming I was blabbering in pain, my wife said:  “and how are you hearing his voice on the fourth floor? “. After some time there was a knock on the door and again the voice “thambi”… This time my wife dashed in and opened the door to see only  my father standing there…Somehow he had made it in the early morning with all the distance from my native place and language barriers of finding the place.

Recently, while I was reading the incident of Mary not recognizing Jesus standing before her, I was perplexed as to why she could not place him. Then how was it possible to identify His voice ?  Then I recalled this incident. The mental trauma may fail the eyes, but not the ears!  Who will not recognize one’s  father’s voice, from the fourth  floor or in a crowd of thousand????  But Mary responded with respect: “Teacher”. A good student is always becoming of the teacher. It is written in the Bible that the sheep know the voice of their shepherd. She was rewarded as the first person in planet earth to see the resurrected Christ and announce the good news to the others “Indeed He is risen”.

Our father is calling. You and me. Every day… by our name or nick name “thambi, chellam …” 

But am I able to hear and recognize my father’s voice?

Prayer: Dear Father,  we praise Your mighty name. On this festive day of Easter, please make us to hear Your voice and recognize the “Christ in me The tomb is still empty but we know that the resurrected Christ lives in me. “ Easter is not only about the connoisseur of food, cakes and beverages. But a day of Joy !  Joy of hearing Your voice. The voice of resurrected Jesus. Please enable our deaf ears to hear your voice again and to see your Holy face.

In Jesus name, we pray.

Amen.