Are Our Tombs
Empty?
Bp. Mylo Hubert C. Vergara
A Blessed Easter to all!
Our
gospel today invites us to reflect on the message of the empty tomb witnessed
by Mary of Magdala, Simon Peter and the disciple Jesus loved. The empty tomb manifests the fulfillment of
Jesus’ promise that on the third day He will rise again.
A
tomb or a grave where the remains of the dead are buried can be described as an
enclosed place in which a dead human body rots or decomposes. We recall how Jesus used this image to
describe the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and Scribes: “Alas for you scribes and
Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who are like whitewashed tombs that look
handsome on the outside, but are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of
corruption.” (Matthew 23: 27) We
also note how Martha warned Jesus about the stench of the remains of Lazarus
who was already in the tomb for a few days: “Lord, by now he will smell; this
is the fourth day.” (John 11:39)
A tomb, then, with a decomposed body inside would not be pleasing to our
sense of sight and smell.
A
tomb with a dead, decomposed body inside it could symbolize death and sin. When
we are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness like the Pharisees and scribes, we sin
and are displeasing in the eyes of God and others. When we succumb to our selfishness, we allow
evil to take over our lives; sin and death have power over us.
Nevertheless,
on this Easter day, the tomb of Jesus Christ is empty. There are no bones, there is no filth;
nothing remains. He has risen from the
dead. He is victorious over the pangs of
suffering and death. He has triumphed
over evil and sin. In the words of
Clarence Hall: “You can put truth in the grave, but it won’t stay there. You can nail it to the cross… and shut it up
in a tomb, but it will rise.” (Mark Link, S.J., Daily Homilies: Seasons
and Feasts, p. 158, 1987)
Are our tombs
empty? Have we cleansed our lives of the
decomposing effects of sin? The victory
of Christ over sin and death is ours, too. The early morning resurrection scene
challenges us to see GLORY after our humiliating experiences, to see JOY after
all the painful events of life and to see HOPE amidst all of life’s depressing
situations. Like the disciple who saw and believed (John 20:9), we
reaffirm our belief in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. The resurrection in our lives can be seen only
with the eyes of faith through which Christ will constantly tell us: BELIEVE!
Indeed, for
every Good Friday, there is an Easter Sunday! Let us sing Alleluia to
the Lord!
(From A Shepherd's Voice: Reflections on the Sunday Gospel , Cycle A, 2007)
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