Today’s Reflection
Gospel: Luke 24:1-12
April 16, 2022 | Saturday

Today’s Gospel

On the Sabbath the women rested according to the commandment, but the first day of the week, at dawn, the women went to the tomb with the perfumes and ointments they had prepared. Seeing the stone rolled away from the opening of the tomb, they entered, and were amazed to find that the body of the Lord Jesus was not there.

As they stood there wondering about this, two men in dazzling garments suddenly stood before them. In fright the women bowed to the ground. But the men said, “Why look for the living among the dead? You won’t find him here. He is risen. Remember what he told you in Galilee, that the Son of Man had to be given into the hands of sinners, to be crucified, and to rise on the third day.” And they remembered Jesus’ words.

Returning from the tomb, they told the Eleven and all the others about these things. Among the women, who brought the news, were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James. But however much they insisted, those who heard did not believe the seemingly nonsensical story. Then Peter got up and ran to the tomb. All he saw, when he bent down and looked into the tomb, were the linen cloths, laid by themselves. He went home wondering.

Today’s Reflection:

Many unbelievers and even some Christians, do not believe in the literal dogmatic teaching on Christ’s resurrection. Some say that the resurrection was a ploy orchestrated by the apostles. Others maintain that the resurrection need not be interpreted literally because the resurrection that could have actually taken place was the resurrection of Jesus in the hearts and minds of His followers who follow His teachings. They have these interpretations because even science and natural reason can’t entirely justify how Jesus can be raised from the dead then later live forever. This is also the reason why it was difficult at first, for the apostles to believe the testimony of women regarding Jesus’ resurrection.

No court will also sanely accept this claim of resurrection based only on the case and mere evidence of the missing Lord. Evidence need to be concrete signs that point or lead to what it claims in order for them to be valid. This means that the absence of something cannot serve as a valid evidence. But for us, Christians, ironically, the only evidence left for us of Christ’s resurrection is that “there is no evidence,” because He is missing. He has been resurrected and walked away.

However, the belief in God through Jesus (including His literal resurrection), is never meant to be a subject of scientific and logical debate. What is missing in the senses and whatever reason can’t justify are supplemented by faith. Christ is missing, but orthodox Christianity teaches that Christ’s physical absence is the evidence, and only faith can complete and see what is absent. Despite the mystery behind Christ’s resurrection, let us remain steadfast in our faith for Him, especially on this day we look back on this miraculous event. /Vulnerasti, 2022