The Victory of Life

Many of us have watched on TV, illusionists and magicians. Sometimes they could make a whole building or airplane disappear before our eyes. There was a show where the illusionist put a lady in a box. Locks were secured on all sides. The box was suspended. Then the illusionist thrust swords through the box. Moments later when he unlocked and opened the box, the lady was gone. “How did he do that?”

Although we may not know how the illusionist did the trick, one thing we do know is that it wasn’t magic. There is a logical explanation for the disappearance of  the woman.

Now, imagine you were present on the first Good Friday, you and many others saw the wrapped, lifeless body of Jesus placed in a tomb. You watch as the huge stone is rolled into the mouth of the cave, sealing the only exit. Early Sunday morning three people saw the same tomb. The heavy stone was rolled away. The body was gone. Their question: “Where did the body go?” 

There were three responses: Mary Magdalene thought the body was stolen. Peter puzzled, “Why would someone unwrap the body before stealing it?” The beloved disciple saw and believed that Jesus had risen. 

Our response to the empty tomb should make all the difference in our lives. On this glorious feast of Easter we can all affirm that God has brought forth eternal life from the darkness of the grave. Easter is our annual declaration that life is stronger than death. We assert our belief that love is more powerful than death.

Death never loses its power to shake us up. The nightmare of the earthquake in Bohol and Cebu,

followed by the super typhoon Yolanda, and the terrorist bombings are fresh in our mind. 

Kidnappings and massacres have become our daily diet from the media. Of all the facts of life, none is more certain than death.

But Easter teaches us that God opposes death. Christ defied death on the cross and conquered it. 

St. Paul tells us, “Through this death, Christ give life back to us.” (Col 3:13)

C.S. Lewis once wrote, “You never know how much you really believe anything until its truth or falsehood becomes a matter of life and death.” 

You may believe a rope is strong as long as you are just using it to tie a box. But suppose you had to hang by that rope while dangling from a 10-story building? That will test your belief.  It better be true!

There will always be an Easter feast that comes in the wake of a deep personal grief sometime in your life. The death of a loved one confronts your faith in the reality of future life. Today’s inspiring songs and hope-filled text may mean more to you than anyone else.

God will not put up with death. Jesus opened death’s door forever and let the light of love and future life shine through. We gather here to reflect on the triumph of life. Yet, we know there are human beings who make a career of causing death.  We call them terrorists in the Middle East, and in Mindanao we call them Muslim or Christian extremists.

Our entertainment media are flooded with programs of violence and death. Even little traffic inconvenience can end in violence – shooting or stabbing. The drug menace is sending millions of people to physical and spiritual death for an instant profit. At times our secular culture appears to champion death, especially to the unborn. Before us lies the question: “Are modern people ready to join Christ in God’s revolution against death?”

Who is ready to share in the resurrection of Christ? Who is prepared to die to sin and rise to new life in Christ? Who is prepared to struggle for peace in a world full of death-producing wars and civil strife?

Today we celebrate the passing of God through human history. Jesus passes through the inevitability of death and proves that it is not the end of life. Our faith can perceive this proof. 

Who will stand up and rediscover the challenge to immortality Christ offers us?

The Risen Christ asks us today to oppose death. In a special way Jesus urges us to become pro-life in the broadest sense of that term. In a world where too many people are pro-death, Easter exultantly takes a stand for life. The Lord of Easter appeals to your power of choice. You did not choose to be born. You did not choose your parents. You did not choose to live in the 20th and 21st century. Almost certainly you will not choose to die, or to choose the where, the when and the how of your death.

But each one of us can choose how we will live. You can choose to live honorably or shamelessly. You can choose what is important or trivial. You can choose to be peace loving or barbaric. Jesus gave us all this power of choice and the gift of freedom to go with it. Jesus asks you to choose life and love.

Christ rose at a particular moment in history. Christ desires to rise again in the personal lives of countless men and women. Jesus wants to rise again in each of our lives. It is a resurrection that requires our cooperation and choice.

Whenever a heart conquers hate, violence and selfishness, Jesus rises again. Whenever love is offered to someone in need, Jesus rises again. Whenever a person dies after living a life of faith, hope and love, the risen Christ celebrates a final victory. 

What else is St. Paul talking about when he writes: “Your life is hidden with Christ in God.” (Col. 3:3)?

Easter is proof that God is love. God did not create us to hate and be hated, but to love and be loved. God did not create us to despair, but to hope. God did not create us so He could punish us for being bad. God intended to save us when we needed Him.

No matter how guilty we are of flesh and sin, of weakness or ingratitude, the loving Christ   seeks to bring us home again. Christ as Love welcomes you and me. Our souls may draw back full of guilt and despair. Jesus says, “Be a permanent guest in my home.” We may reply, “How can we, so full of sin?  We cannot look at you.”

In the stream of light, the Risen Christ will take our hands and say, “Who made your eyes, but I? 

Sit down and eat and taste my food.”

This is what Easter is all about. It’s the good news that the risen Jesus is in our midst, ready to work miracles for us – if we let him. It’s the good news that nothing can defeat us anymore – not discouragement, not pain, not misfortune, not even death. It’s the good news that Jesus has triumphed, and so will we, if we open our hearts to him.

This is what we celebrate today - the victory of life over death. Let us now prepare to break bread together on this great birthday of our Christian faith.