HOMILY FOR EASTER SUNDAY YEAR B (6)

HOMILY FOR EASTER SUNDAY YEAR B

HOMILY THEME: THE MYSTERY OF THE EMPTY TOMB

BY: Fr. Charles Unaeze

HOMILY:

The empty tomb is a reality created by the absence of the body of Jesus. All four canonical Gospels reported about it as a fundamental starting point, without which the experience of Christ’s apparitions would not have been possible. Without death, the tomb and burial, there can be no resurrection.

History testifies that the man Jesus really lived in the time of Caesar Augustus; He was falsely accused of crimes he never committed and was unjustly condemned to a death he never deserved, died and was buried. Equally historically proven is what happened to the disciples after his death. After a period of disarray and fear, this small group of people saw the Risen One, ate and drank with him. The true mystery of the Christian faith is not found in the disappearance of the body of Jesus but in the historical certainty and, at the same time, metaphysics of His resurrection.

We proclaim today with joy that Jesus is risen from the dead. Crucifixion and Death was not the end of His story. If death were to be the end of the story, it would have been a very a bad story with a bad ending; happily, it was not. Today we are into another chapter of the same story and it begins with the empty tomb.

If Jesus did not rise, says St. Paul, he who believes in him would be a fool, the most unfortunate of all men, and that if men do not rise again or have the possibility to rise again, then Christ has not risen. (Cf., 1Corinthians 15, 14-19). The mystery of the divinity of Jesus does not nullify his humanity but he “raises” it, as it can raise that of those who follow him. As Jesus went down to the tomb and came out of it, so we too have the possibility to do it, following his way.

His absence from the grave is proof that death can be defeated and that truth is immortal. Truth could be suppressed, tortured, killed and buried in the grave but on the third day it will rise again. Christians should not give up on Truth even when everybody seems to give up on it nor should they give up on doing what is right.

Learn to believe in the sun even when it is not shining; knowing that by and large it will shine again. It is the end of the story that counts. That is why the church asks us today to rejoice and be glad. Even when you are going through difficult times: through betrayal, unjust discrimination, lies, misrepresentation and even when the enemy seems to be winning the battle in your live, never give up, it will eventually end in your favour.

Christ’s victory is our victory; in Him we shall all overcome. His resurrection is our hope, our happiness, our life and our glory. Amen

Happy Easter!
Fr. Charles Unaeze