SERMON/HOMILY FOR TUESDAY OF THE OCTAVE OF EASTER 3RD APRIL 2024

SERMON/HOMILY FOR TUESDAY OF THE OCTAVE OF EASTER 3RD APRIL 2024

Act 2:136-41; Ps.33; John 20:11-18

Easter calls us to Stay with the Lord

Today’s liturgy teaches us what the Lord wants from us if we must authentically and fruitfully celebrate his resurrection: we must stay with the Lord. The first and the gospel readings present this requirement from different perspectives.

In the gospel reading, we meet Mary crying at the tomb of Jesus not just because Jesus is dead but because she thought his body has been stolen. It is good we understand the circumstances surrounding Mary’s action. First, Jesus had cast out seven demons from her (Lk.8:2) and since then, she became a committed follower of Jesus. Second, she was not expecting the resurrection. Her presence at the tomb was to mourn Jesus’ death. Her love for Jesus pushes her to love him even in death; unconditional love. Indeed she was a faithful disciple who stays with the Master both in joyful and sorrowful moments.

In the first reading, Peter preached the risen Christ to Jesus’ murderers and they were cut to the heart. When they asked what they are to do, Peter told them to repent and be Baptized. To repent is to turn away from evil and turn to God; to be baptized is to be become Christ-like, a child of God, and a member of the body of Christ. Repentance and Baptism keeps one with the Lord.

When we stay with the Lord, we consequently begin to behold his manifestation in ways beyond our imagination. Mary’s perseverance even at Jesus’ death won her Jesus’ first appearance. Jesus does not want us to treat him like an ATM machine or like drugs that are approached/taken only when we are in need or sick. He wants us to develop an undying relationship with him.

Beloved, if we stay with the Lord simply because of what he can do for us, our relationship becomes a contract. A contract is open to termination anytime especially if a party feels he/she is not getting what he/she expected. But if we stay with the Lord because of who he is to us (our Lord and Christ), our relationship becomes a covenant. Through this Easter celebration, may we obtain the grace to stay with the Lord in a covenantal relationship, amen.