Let me begin by greeting you all a joy and hope filled Easter. Easter is the most important feast in the Church, a Lense to look at the life-mission of the Church. It recalls, relives and relates the foundational experience of the early Church: an encounter and experience of the risen Jesus, which led her to a new way of life.
John 20.8 states, ‘Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed.’ What did he really see? The Scriptures says that he saw the ‘linen wrappings’ lying there.
The linen wrappings had a history. They had a layer of meaning to those who walked with Jesus of Nazareth. It reminded them of how Jesus was unjustly caught, beaten and nailed on the cross. It stood for a brutal end of a great saga.
When the disciple entered and saw the same linen wrappings, they revealed him something new. The Scripture says that he believed. Well, like any other experience, everything was not crystal clear to him. So, as the Scripture observes, he went home. However, the Holy Bible also tells us that the disciples who went home did not remain there long. They came out as transformed men, men of new experience, energy and enthusiasm; new decision, determination and direction. They were men on fire who went on doing good as their master and Lord did.
Whether we want or not linen wrappings are found even today. Just look around. Our world is battered by crisis after crisis. There is distrust, division and destruction; hate, violence and death. It is not only the humans. Even our mother earth is groaning under the weight of climate crisis.
Are linen wrappings lying only outside? A deep look inside reveals that we are also enveloped by discouragement, disappointment and despair. What do we do at the face of linen wrappings? Should we doubt and become prophets of doom? Or should we believe and become messengers of hope and joy?
Easter is primarily a mystical event and experience. It invites us to encounter, engage and experience Jesus, and become Easter people. Let us meet Jesus during this Holy season, and transformed by him, let us go out with his spirit of Magis, optimism and optimum for God and God’s people.
Happy Easter to you!
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