The Lord Has Risen!

04-17-2022Weekly ReflectionFr. Manasseh Iorchir, VC

On Good Friday the Jews accused Jesus, Pontius Pilate condemned Him to death, the soldiers scourged and mocked Him, He carried His cross, a symbol of suffering and shame, to Cavalry where He was crucified. He was deserted by His disciples and friends: one betrayed Him, another denied Him, and the others ran away as soon as He was arrested. Only His mother Mary, John the beloved disciple and a few devout women stood sad and sorrowful under His Cross. The Divine Redeemer battled with sin and death from the Cross, mocked by the same people He chose to save. At the ninth hour of the day, He exclaimed, “It is accomplished.” The debt humanity owed for disobedience had been paid by the obedience of the Divine Son of God. The dominion of darkness was over. Death was given a fatal blow by the immortal One and man stood redeemed.

On Good Friday the Jews accused Jesus, Pontius Pilate condemned Him to death, the soldiers scourged and mocked Him, He carried His cross, a symbol of suffering and shame, to Cavalry where He was crucified. He was deserted by His disciples and friends: one betrayed Him, another denied Him, and the others ran away as soon as He was arrested. Only His mother Mary, John the beloved disciple and a few devout women stood sad and sorrowful under His Cross. The Divine Redeemer battled with sin and death from the Cross, mocked by the same people He chose to save. At the ninth hour of the day, He exclaimed, “It is accomplished.” The debt humanity owed for disobedience had been paid by the obedience of the Divine Son of God. The dominion of darkness was over. Death was given a fatal blow by the immortal One and man stood redeemed.

To those who crucified Him, He was finished, defeated and dead. Sadness and sorrow enveloped His mother and friends who witnessed the event. They must have thought “what now?” His traumatized and scared stiff disciples scrambled for cover in fear. For them, hope may have been lost. What they did not know was that Easter was coming.

On the third day after Jesus died, St. John the Evangelist tells us Mary of Magdala went to the tomb to anoint His body. She loved Jesus beyond everything else and desired to honor His body as was custom at that time. So much was her love of Him who loved her first that while the disciples were hiding for fear of the Jews, her love overpowered her fear, and compelled her to the tomb to carry out an act of charity on the Lord’s body. This charitable desire of hers led her to be the first to discover the truth of the Resurrection. She found that the Prince of Life, who died, had overpowered death and had risen from the dead. Some truths are revealed by this. We can overpower fear with love, and only by love and charity can we know Christ and have a share in His Resurrection. Be kind, be charitable, love and you will find the Risen Lord.

However, Mary of Magdala, though loved, was not one of the twelve, the official teaching authority established by Jesus Himself. So, she ran to where competent and constituted authority was to report her findings. Simon Peter, leader of the Apostles, and another disciple, the one that Jesus loved, ran to verify Mary’s claims. Being probably younger, the other disciple outran Peter and got to the tomb first, but did not go in. He too (the beloved disciple) was an Apostle, but Simon Peter was designated first among equals by Christ Himself. So, the beloved disciple only went in after Peter who saw and believed.

As we celebrate the life-transforming power of the Resurrection, let us ask the Lord to set aflame our hearts with love, love that overcomes fear, love that seeks to help and raise the needy. May we respect and frequently pray for legitimate authority whether it be political or religious, and may the Resurrection of Jesus Christ transform us into fearless witnesses to truth, justice and peace.

Please be kind and may God bless you.

Fr. Manasseh