by Fr. Jose “Joesum” Sumampong, Jr.
April 18, 2021
Third Sunday of Easter (B)
Acts 3:13-15, 17-19 / Psalm 4: 2, 4, 7-9 /
1 Jn 2:1-5 / Lk 24 35-48
IT IS RESURRECTION; NOT RESUSCITATION
Word: We read today part of Luke’s interpretation of the “Paschal Event”. According to Luke’s gospel, five events happen on the same Easter day: 1) the visit of the women to the tomb, in the early morning, and the announcement of the resurrection (Lk 24:1-10); 2) the visit of Peter to the same tomb, and his utter confusion (Lk 24:11-12); 3) the apparition to the two disciples of Emmaus (Lk 24:13-35); 4) the apparition to the eleven Apostles, that same evening (Lk 24:36-49); and 5) the ascension of Jesus and his exaltation in heaven (Lk 24:50-53).
We have to go back to the many dramatic events which the disciples witnessed in the past three days: the last meal of Jesus, last Thursday, the arrest in the garden of Gethsemane, their own flight, the denial of Peter, the uniquitous condemnation of Jesus as heretic and blaphemer, his death on the cross outside the walls of the city, the suicide by hanging of Judas, one of their friends. The group of the Twelve has become the Eleven—through the defection and death of Judas. In this context the Resurrection happens so suddenly, disconcertingly and unexpectedly.
Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread. While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you” (Lk 24:35-36).
This is the usual greeting of the Jews: “Shalom!” or “Peace!” On that evening, this traditional greeting took up a very special significance: in the depth of their distress, Jesus comes to tell them: “Do not be afraid! Be at peace!”
Last Thursday, before his death—as John says—Jesus had promised that they would find peace once again after a period of tribulations: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you” (Jn 14:27). Today, on this Easter evening, the promise is fulfilled.
But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost (Lk 24:37). Obviously, the Eleven—as the other narratives already told us—begin by being frightened and by having doubts. Further on, Luke will insist very much on the fact that Jesus had to “open their minds”, as yet they understand nothing.
Then he said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have” (Lk 24:38-39).
In the parallel narrative of John, Jesus had shown to his disciples “his hands and his side”. We know how important, for John, is the open side, symbol of the living water which springs out of the New Temple, according to the prophecy of Ezekiel.
But the essential message is the same in both narratives: the intent is to show how the same Jesus who was crucified, is now risen. For those Semitic people—who have not the platonic and cartesian concept of “the separation of body and soul”—if Jesus is alive, he is to be alive with his entire Person. Jesus is intent on assuring them that he is no ghost, and, for this, he has to have a body. The Resurrection cannot be reduced to a mere “immortality of the soul”. Hence, the sequence of these concrete details: “Touch me and see… Have you anything here to eat?” (Lk 24:39-41).
o0o
Order: First, it is clear that resurrection does not simply means resuscitation. Jesus was transformed, changed. Precisely how he was changed and yet remained the same person is difficult to convey, but all of the resurrection appearances involve some element of confusion or doubt on the part of his followers. However, by speaking with them, eating, holding out his hands for their inspection, Jesus convinces his friends that he is truly alive. He has changed but has not been defeated. Thus the gospel is challenging us to truly believe in his resurrection.
Second, before Jesus leaves his followers for the last time in this gospel, he returns to his role of teacher, explaining the scriptures that predicted his own suffering and death. Then he commands his followers to preach that message to all people and to announce the possibility of forgiveness for sin. In today’s first reading (Acts 3:13-15, 17-19). Peter did precisely as Jesus commanded. Thus the gospel is ordering us to be his witnesses.
o0o
Realities: 1. The interviewer asked Joseph of Arimathea, “Now the grave you lent is yours again. What are you planning to do with it?” Joseph took a long look at him, and then confided, “When I heard that He had risen, naturally I raced to the tomb. He was not there. He had given my tomb back to me. So what I did after that was: I placed a comfortable bench under the trees just opposite the opening to the tomb. In the evening, as the sun is going down, I go and sit there and I think to myself, ‘Jesus of Nazareth has slept in this tomb and God raised Him from death. Joseph of Arimathea will also lie in this tomb, and what will God do with him?’ Jesus had said, “I live and you shall live.” “I can depend on that word.” (Hans-Georg Lubkoll, Heaven, Resurrection)
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Realities: 2. Molly had a fiery temper when she was a young girl. It often caused her to say or do unkind things. Finally, her father told her that for each thoughtless, mean thing she did, he would drive a nail into their gatepost. For each kindness, a nail would be pulled out.
As the nails increased, getting them out became a challenge. Finally, the wished-for-day arrived – only one more nail! As her father pulled it out, Molly danced around proudly, exclaiming, “See, Daddy, the nails are all gone!”
“Yes,” agreed her father thoughtfully, “the nails are gone – but the scars remain.” (Lovasik, Unkindness Scars)
3. When I was a boy we had a very special kind of beautiful yellow sweet apple called a “Golden Delicious.” I remember that because even today a Golden Delicious apple tree stands near my parent’s house. I was only three years old when my Dad planted it. And then I remember that when it was already bearing fruit, a big storm came along and broke off one of the main branches right from the trunk. So what did my Dad do? He cut it off neatly, then covered It over with mud, and wrapped some rags around it until the tree grew a scar over the area and completely covered it over. That scar is still there and it has not hurt the vitality and bearing of the tree in the least.
It makes me think of humans who have suffered some deep wound in their lives, some cutting off temporarily of their lifeline, a dark hour or weak moment. Perhaps it is someone who has come to the conclusion that he/she has “blown it”. Or another who had missed life’s opportunity and missed the boat and now it’s too late … they’ve made the wrong choice, and fouled up their entire future …
But this can all heal over and keep bearing fruit just like the Golden Delicious apple tree. (Bert Balling, Scars Strenghtened)
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4. The reality of the Resurrection was brought home sharply to the early Christians precisely in their experience of him in their worship. Today, in the active liturgies of thriving parishes and BECs, we Filipino Catholics share the same experience. (Catechism for Filipino Catholics, no. 661).
oOo
Direction: O Risen Lord, your body was part of your power, rather than you a part in its weakness. For this reason you could not but rise again, if you were to die—because you body, once taken by you, never was or could be separated from you even in the grave. I keep your most holy body before me as the pledge of my own resurrection. Though I die, it only means that my life is changed, for I shall rise again. Teach me so to live as one who believes the great dignity and sanctity of the material frame in which I am lodged. (Prayer in Praise of Christ’s Humanity, Peoples’ Prayer Book, no. 706).