the dark side of the resurrection
"Early in the morning on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb. She saw that the stone had been moved away." —John 20:1
Jesus is risen from the dead! Alleluia! "This is the day the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it" (Ps 118:24).
I am writing this teaching for Easter with an IV in my arm, as I await having a tube put down my throat. This may be followed by other tortures, which may lead to surgery. What kind of Easter celebration is this!
"While it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb" (Jn 20:1). Easter often begins when it's dark. Possibly you are still in the night of a broken heart, painful marriage, shattered family, severe sickness, or pervasive pain. However, without the darkness of night, we would never see the sun rise. Without Jesus' death on Calvary, He would not have risen.
If you begin this Easter season struggling to hope against hope (Rm 4:18), renew your baptismal promises and have faith in the Father through Jesus and in the Spirit. "Walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Cor 5:7). Jesus is risen! He has victory over the darkness, and He will manifest it in your life. "At nightfall, weeping enters in, but with the dawn, rejoicing" (Ps 30:6). Rejoice in the risen Christ! Rejoice by faith! Rejoice when you are still in your night, for Jesus is the Light Who is sure to dawn (see 2 Pt 1:19). Alleluia forever!
Prayer: Father, should anyone ask me the reason for this hope of mine may I "be ever ready to reply" (1 Pt 3:15).
Promise: "Are you not aware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Through baptism into His death we were buried with Him, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live a new life." —Rm 6:3-4
Praise: Alleluia! Praise Jesus, risen Light, Hope, Lord, and God!
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Giles H. Pater, October 17, 2002
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, October 21, 2002