HOMILIES

Dear Audience,
For better understanding of the spiritual message behind this homily I kindly remind you to first read and contemplate the biblical texts before reading or listening to my preaching - a human reflection on the Word of God!

Easter Sunday (Year C)

Apr 20, 2025

615

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First Reading

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles (10:34a, 37-43)

Peter proceeded to speak and said: "You know what has happened all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached, how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree. This man God raised on the third day and granted that he be visible, not to all people, but to us, the witnesses chosen by God in advance who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commissioned us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness, that everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins through his name."

(P) The word of the Lord.
(R) Thanks be to God.

Second Reading

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Colossians (3:1-4)

Brothers and sisters: if then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory.

(P) The word of the Lord.
(R) Thanks be to God.

Gospel

A reading from the Gospel according to John (20:1-9)

On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, "They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don't know where they put him."

So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. For they did not yet understand the scripture that he had to rise from the dead.

(P) The Gospel of the Lord.
(R) Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Homily

There is a story about a priest and a barber who were once talking about the existence of God as they walked along their poor neighbourhoods. The barber said to the priest, "Father, you say God is good, loving and powerful. If God is good, why does He make us suffer? Why does a loving God allow poverty, sicknesses, violence, pain, suffering and death? If God is powerful, why doesn't He wipe out all evil?

The priest was silent but they kept on walking until they saw a man with unkempt hair and a scruffy beard, wearing worn-out clothes and looking dishevelled. The priest said to the barber, "You can't be a good barber. If you are then you wouldn't permit a man like this to continue living in your neighbourhood without a haircut and a shave". Indignantly the barber responded, "I shouldn't be blamed for that man's condition. I can't help he is like that. However, if he comes to my shop, I could fix him up and make him look good!"

Giving the barber a penetrating look, the priest said, "In the same way, we shouldn't blame God for allowing people to continue in their evil ways when He constantly invites them to return to His presence and allow Him to fix what's wrong in their lives.

The Bible tells us that every person comes into the world with a sinful nature and faces the same consequences - death and separation from God our creator, Genesis (3:6) and Romans (5:12) - ecause of the first man Adam's disobedience and sin. God made us "in his own image". It means that we are all created in the same image and likeness of God, Genesis (1:26). We are designed to resemble God in every way, reflecting His qualities and character such as love, kindness, compassion, forgiveness etc. and representing Him as rulers over His creation. Unfortunately, we fail to represent Him. We either ignore or disobey the voice of God directing us, thereby distorting His image in us.

Saint Paul writes that even though we are physically alive, we are spiritually dead, meaning we are cut off or separated from God because of our disobedience and sins, Ephesians (2:1-10). Yet God does not want anyone to perish. He gives us a chance through His only Son Jesus Christ who came to teach us how to live rightly and to save us from our sins by dying on the cross, thereby removing the separation caused by sin and restoring the broken relationship with God. Since Jesus willingly took our place and experienced death on our behalf although He did not deserve it, God raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory to vindicate the perfection of His atonement and obedience, and to encourage our faith, hope and new life in Him, Acts (2:24,13:34) and Ephesians (1:21-23).

When Jesus died for us, we died with Him. When He rose again, we rose with Him. In his letter to the Romans which we read at the Easter vigil last night, Saint Paul states that Jesus died for our sins, then was buried, Romans (6:3-11). It means that we are dead to sin and were buried with Him. Our old sinful selves were crucified with Jesus so that sin has no power over our lives and we are no longer enslaved by sin. We are set free from sin so that we may live a new and transformed life, a life that should discern the will of God, reflect His character in all our actions and relationships, and fulfil His mission on earth.

Referring to the transformative effect of Christ's death and resurrection on all who believe in Him, in today's second reading of his letter to the Colossians, Saint Paul says, "If you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above, not of what is on earth", Colossians (3:1-2). In other words, we who believe and participate in the resurrection of Christ must ponder, reflect, desire, and pursue the things of spiritual and eternal value such as God's Word, faith, love, humility, gentleness, compassion, patience, forgiveness, peace, joy, freedom from sin, reconciliation with God and others, etc. Rather than the things of earthly and temporal value such as carnal goods, pleasures, riches, popularity, anger, rage, malice, slander, impurity, lust, greed, evil desires, etc.

Moreover, Paul states, "For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God", Colossians (3:3). That is to say that our old life is over and done, crucified with Christ on the cross and buried with Him and our new life is eternally "hidden" or "secured" in Christ, meaning we are concealed and protected from the evildoers or evil spirits who are seeking to harm us.

Lastly, Paul says, "When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory", Colossians (3:4). By this statement Paul implies that because we were united to Christ in his death, burial, and resurrection, and our life is hidden with Christ in God, we will also share the divine glory and experience the fullness of eternal joy in God's presence when Christ will come again in power and glory to judge the living and the dead, and to establish His kingdom.

So, today as we rejoice over and be glad for God's enduring love, His deliverance from sin and death, His protection and care, and His gift of eternal life in Christ, let us live with an eternal perspective, valuing spiritual growth and our relationship with God above all else, anticipating with joy the day of glorious celebration when He returns to share His glory with us and all those who await His coming.

(P) Amen.

I wish you all a Joyful and Blessed Easter!

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