His Resurrection, Our Resurrection

Homily for the Third Sunday of Easter

By Deacon Thomas Stephenson

April 19, 2015

How is everyone doing today? Enjoying the warmer weather? We are entering the third week of Easter, and along with the spiritual renewal and rejoicing that this season brings, we have the improvement in the weather to give us cause for joy. It’s interesting that Fr. Paul and I both often begin with a reference to the weather, but it is appropriate – the weather can affect how we feel, not just the physical reality of the sun or the rain, the heat or the cold, but the emotional, and yes, even spiritual effects of the conditions we are experiencing. Give thanks to the Lord that we are finally headed toward summer!

Every Sunday is a celebration of the Resurrection, but particularly on the Sundays during this Easter Season, we recall the historical events, encounters, and experiences that confirmed the reality of Christ risen from death. The disciples came to know that the resurrected Jesus was not a vision or a ghost; He was real, with a physical but glorified body. Last week, we heard about Thomas, who was invited by Jesus to go so far as to put his fingers and hand into Jesus’ wounds in order to resolve Thomas’ doubts. Today’s Gospel is a continuation of the account of the two disciples who met Jesus on the way to Emmaus, when Jesus walked with them, taught them, and broke bread with them. And now, just as He did earlier in the upper room, He came and stood among the disciples. Naturally, they are frightened, and one way He tries to calm them is by showing them that He is real; as He did with Thomas, Jesus even suggests that they touch Him. And, when they still were not quite convinced, He ate some fish as further proof that He was not a ghost.

What does He do next? He opens their minds to understand the scriptures: the necessity of His death and resurrection, repentance and forgiveness of sins in His name, God’s plan for our salvation. The entire history of God’s people was directed toward, and fulfilled in, the events of Jesus’ life. The understanding He gave these disciples was not simply human knowledge, but spiritual awareness as well, a gift of faith.

He has given that gift to us, too, if we open our minds, our hearts, and our souls to receive it. However, we need to recognize this gift and accept it. Whether it’s Mary Magdalene at the tomb, or the disciples on the road to Emmaus, or the situation in today’s Gospel, how many times did even Jesus’ closest disciples not immediately recognize Him when He was with them? How many times do we not recognize Him when He is with us? Jesus wants us to know that He is walking with us, sitting with us, speaking to us. The resurrected Christ is not just a figure in the past, He is alive and present to us now. We are not alone. He wants us to recognize that the Word of God is meant for us, in our lives, in our joys and in our troubles. Regardless of what our difficulties are, the Word, Jesus, the Word made flesh, has answers and comfort for us. As He asked Thomas to touch His wounds, we can allow Him, we can ask Him, to reach out and touch our wounds, our physical, emotional, and spiritual injuries.

In today’s first reading, Peter speaks of Jesus in terms recalling the suffering servant mentioned by the Prophet Isaiah, especially that His death would be for the forgiveness of sins. In the second reading, John says the he is writing so that we may not sin. But we know that it is unlikely that any of us, no matter how much we want to be perfect, will go without sinning. So John reminds us that, when we do sin, we have an advocate, and not just an advocate, we have Jesus as the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Are we liars, as John says, when we don’t obey Jesus’ commandments? This may be a bit of hyperbole on John’s part, for just a few lines before he told us about our advocate. So, are we liars? We are weak, perhaps; fallen, yes; but even Jesus would probably tell us that if we are contrite we are forgiven. He also gave us the Sacrament of Reconciliation, so we can go to confession and experience His forgiveness. Just as He reassured the disciples, Jesus does not want us to be frightened or doubtful, but at peace in Him.

Our ultimate peace comes when enter into His glory for eternity. In both the Apostle’s Creed and the Nicene Creed, we acknowledge that we believe in the resurrection of the body, and in eternal life. In demonstrating to the disciples that He indeed was risen with a physical body, He gives us an indication that we, too, will be raised with a physical but glorified body. Jesus said “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.” We all have loved ones and friends who have passed away, many of us quite recently. We hope, we are convinced, that we will see them again one day. Despite our grief and sorrow at our loss, we can take comfort in knowing that they, and we, will be resurrected. With its focus on the resurrection, this Easter season affords us the opportunity to more deeply meditate on this most critical fact of our faith. The more we contemplate the mystery of the resurrection, the closer we come to our risen Lord.