EASTER SUNDAY 2018 B

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LOVING EYES, LIVING CHRIST





Easter is a season of stories of people who have seen the Lord after his Resurrection. While so many witnessed the passion of Jesus, from his triumphant entry to Jerusalem to the death and burial outside the city walls, not all those present then had an encounter with the Risen Lord.



In the beginning, even the ones who were with Jesus in his life and ministry, and who stayed close by during his passion and death, had some difficulty visualizing the Lord in his new and glorified state. Mary Magdalene mistook the Lord Jesus for a gardener. But when Jesus spoke Mary’s name, her heart warmed up with all the thoughts of her days staying with and following the Lord, her moments at the foot of the cross, and her anointing his body for burial. The voice of Jesus ignited the love in her heart and then she could clearly see him now.



John the beloved is another Easter figure. In his case, he did not see the Lord immediately too. But while investigating the tomb, he saw the linen cloths and he believed. In the Bible, to believe is connected to the act of love. Believing is cherishing, loving, trusting. John’s love for Jesus inflamed his faith in the meaning of an empty tomb.  He remembered the Lord’s words, his promises, and above all, his relationship with him. His love told him to believe: The Lord is not here, because he is risen!



Some people have posed the question why the Lord did not also appear to the Pharisees, the leaders of the Jews, Pilate and the Roman guards. Surely they would have immediately reversed their attitude towards Jesus and become his instant disciples. But without love, one cannot recognize the Risen Lord. They will see, yes, but only with doubtful and suspicious eyes. Catholics see the Eucharist and say It’s Jesus himself. Others see the same and proclaim its only a piece of bread.



As Christians, we cannot also see the Lord face-to-face while on earth but because we love him, we rejoice at the little signs of his love all around us. We see him in the small victories, in small kindness, in small miracles. The Resurrection makes sense to those who love Jesus because in love, the Lord becomes present although he may be absent or distant from our eyes.



Today is the day of Resurrection. Today is the day we see the Lord through love. Let us open our eyes of faith to perceive the love of God working in our lives even in small things. When we feel his love in our hearts we can proclaim to others that he is indeed victorious over sin and death!


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