Following Jesus from the tomb

March 29, 2018
Father Charles Puthota
 
Listening to the priest speaking about Jesus’ resurrection, 7-year-old Jack asks: “What was the first thing that Jesus said when he rose from the dead?” The priest says: “You know, children, the Gospels do not really say anything about it.” The little Katie says: “I know what Jesus said.” “Do you really, Katie? What did he say?” The girl says: “Jesus said, ‘ta-da.’”
 
Katie, the little theologian, had a glimpse into Jesus’ resurrection and expressed it in her own charming and faith-filled way. She had heard of Jesus’ horrible suffering and death. Those who had killed him thought they had succeeded. But Jesus said: ta-da. In effect Jesus said: “Here I am back. I had told you so! I’ve fulfilled all the prophecies!” In Jesus’ resurrection appearances, exhilarating and bewildering as they were, the disciples experienced Jesus’ ta-da moment. It was not a triumphalist ta-da, but a humble one born of a glorious new life bestowed upon him by his heavenly Father.
 
This year, Easter Sunday falls on April 1. Jesus played his Easter prank. He fooled sin, death, and evil. Jesus fooled those who thought they had finished him off. He fooled his own disillusioned followers. In that sense, it was a glorious April Fools’ Day.
 
In the event of the “Pentecost of the gentiles” in Acts, Peter proclaims to Cornelius household the Jesus of history who had been put to death. Having now risen from the dead, Jesus leads people to faith and personal witness. From the vantage point of Jesus of faith, the disciples will take a close look at Jesus of history and discover the hidden mysteries they had missed during Jesus’ public ministry. He is the Messiah, the fulfillment of the promise in the Old Testament.
 
In the Gospel, Mary Magdala is the first messenger of the resurrection. Peter sees the empty tomb and wonders what it all means because “they did not yet understand the scripture that he had to rise from the dead.” John is able to believe because of love. He is the beloved disciple representing all the disciples who love Jesus. The empty tomb is physical evidence, but resurrection will be experienced for ages to come only by the beloved disciples of Jesus. Jesus will keep popping up in the most unexpected ways in our lives and teasing us with his characteristic ta-da. Love will lead us to recognize him in others, especially those who are in need.
 
Paul in Colossians points to the resurrection-effects in the lives of the beloved disciples. Raised with Christ, we are to seek what is above. Dying-rising will be our daily process of following Jesus. The risen Lord uplifts each of us from sinfulness to grace, from despair to hope, from lethargy to energy, from sadness to joy, from fear to courage, from coldness to warmth, from hatred to love. We will know intimately that he always “easters” in us. Now we can hope. We can shine, overcome, love, share, and celebrate. We can live for God and others. The Easter Christ empowers us for fullness of life.
 
Easter also has universal significance. Because of Easter, we can place our love at the service of others. Easter means that we forge families, communities, and nations capable of the power and promise of the resurrection. Citizens of nations though we may be, we rise to be the citizens of the world – the world God so loves that he gave his only son. The risen Christ cherishes and charms us, dazzles and delights us, nudging us to create a world of peace and justice, love and laughter; a world without hunger, sadness and despair, where everyone can find their place and dignity. It is to that Promised Land that our glorious, risen shepherd-king is leading us.
 
Father Puthota is pastor of St. Veronica Parish, South San Francisco, and director of Pastoral Ministry for the Archdiocese of San Francisco.