by Fr. Tommy Lane
We are so accustomed to hearing of Jesus risen from the dead that we could say, “Oh yea…we know all about it” and miss the grace of this holy season of Easter. But think about it, Jesus rose from the dead! Death is not the end. It is only the door to beyond. We do not want Jesus’ resurrection to have to fight for room in our lives; may Jesus’ death and resurrection be the center of our lives. We had been waiting for this moment for thousands of years. The Old Testament shows us that history was working out according to God’s plan but the highpoint in God’s plan for us was the resurrection. Easter is the greatest celebration of the Church. Jesus’ resurrection reminds us that there is life beyond the grave. Jesus’ resurrection reminds us that there is more to each of us than meets the eye, that we have an immortal soul. We will live forever with God.
What is the purpose of life? What is your goal in life? Where is your heart in life? Life has only one ultimate goal, to prepare for the next life, and if you are not preparing for your own resurrection, you are like a train that has become derailed. What happens to a train that gets derailed? It goes nowhere. Can you take your house to heaven with you? Can you take your car to heaven with you? Can you take your bank account to heaven with you? It would be good to use your money for the spread of the Gospel. Do you pray to God every day? I cannot understand anyone who says they believe in God but do not pray every day. It is a contradiction to say that you believe in God but do not pray.
We have a wonderful future ahead of us. We will be resurrected like Jesus. The end of our second reading today said,
When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory. (Col 3:4).
Also think of what we heard in our second reading,
your life is hidden with Christ in God. (Col 3:3)
Think of the glorious future that awaits each of us. Paul wrote to the Philippians,
For us, our homeland is in heaven, and from heaven comes the Savior we are waiting for, the Lord Jesus Christ, and he will transfigure these wretched bodies of ours into copies of his glorious body. (Phil 3:20)
Just think of it, your body will be transformed to become a glorious body like that of Jesus. Do we live like someone who believes in such a glorious future? When we do, everything in this world takes on a new perspective, so that we do not become possessed by our possessions. And since we are promised to be transfigured like the risen Jesus, it is natural to pray for a substantial amount of time every day. It would be a contradiction to say that we believe in God but not pray. The reason we have so many problems is because we don’t pray enough. Pray, pray, pray. Again, what is life all about?
Our homeland is in heaven, and from heaven comes the Savior we are waiting for, the Lord Jesus Christ, and he will transfigure these wretched bodies of ours into copies of his glorious body. (Phil 3:20)
John, in his first letter says something similar,
My dear people, we are already children of God, but what we are to be in the future has not yet been revealed; all we know is, that when it is revealed we shall be like him because we shall see him as he really is. (1 John 3:2)
Why can we expect such a glorious future? Because we are baptized. That is why baptism is so important. When we are baptized we are adopted by God as his very own sons and daughters. In the same letter John says,
Think of the love that the Father has lavished on us, by letting us be called God’s children; and that is what we are (1 John 3:1).
You were adopted by God as his son or daughter on the day you were baptized. That is why in our second reading today we heard,
you have been brought back to true life with Christ....you have died, and now the life you have is hidden with Christ in God. (Col 3:1)
We were transformed on the day we were baptized to share in the life of Jesus. Think of what happened to you on the day you were baptized. You were born again and became a son or daughter of God.
All the resurrection accounts are different, and we cannot reconcile them. In the account from Mark 16 which we read last night (Year B), three women came to the tomb. In the account from John 20 this morning, firstly Mary Magdalene and then Peter and John go to the tomb. One of the things all the resurrection accounts have in common is the stone rolled back from the entrance to the tomb. Have you allowed a stone to prevent you from meeting the risen Jesus? Have you allowed the stone of becoming engrossed in what you have and own and what others have and own to block your way to Jesus? You were adopted as God’s son or daughter on the day you were baptized. If you are not living like a son or daughter of God, roll away the stone. If you are not happy, that is a sure sign that the stone needs to be rolled away in your life. If we knew the risen Jesus, we would have such joy in our hearts that nothing else could give. Think of our second reading today, “...the life you have is hidden with Christ in God...” (Col 3:3) Think of the total change that occurred in Paul’s life after he met Jesus on the road to Damascus. We must roll away the stone for that. Listen once again to part of our second reading today,
Since you have been brought back to true life with Christ, you must look for the things that are in heaven, where Christ is, sitting at God’s right hand. Let your thoughts be on heavenly things, not on things that are on the earth, because you have died and now the life you have is hidden with Christ in God. (Col 3:1-3)
God has adopted you as his son or daughter. Thank God for this most wonderful privilege. Roll away the stone to accept God's invitation and meet Jesus:
Since you have been brought back to true life with Christ, you must look for the things that are in heaven, where Christ is, sitting at God’s right hand. Let your thoughts be on heavenly things, not on things that are on the earth, because you have died and now the life you have is hidden with Christ in God. (Col 3:1-3)
Copyright © Fr. Tommy Lane 2000
This homily was delivered in a parish in Ireland.
More homilies for Easter Sunday
Jesus here with us 2024
Jesus with us though invisible 2021
Jesus' Resurrection shows He is the Answer to our Questions 2016
Jesus Continues in the Church 2015
Christ is Risen! 2011
Jesus Risen is the Light of the World 2008
Related Homilies: Jesus Did Rise on Easter Sunday! 2021
belief in the resurrection (excerpt of funeral homily)
cloth over Jesus’ head, The Sudarium
stories about the next life and death