VICTORY OF RESURRECTION
*Fr.IVO DA CONCEIÇÃO SOUZA
Christianity is a powerful movement which began with a very specific
message: The Crucified Jesus had been raised from the dead (1 Cor 15:3-5; Acts
2:22-24). Jesus is the Risen Lord, the Christ. He gives us victory over sin
and death (1 Cor 15:14.17). Our own death will not be the final word. Through
Baptism we already share the life of God and, after death, we shall enjoy the
fullness of the divine life. Easter brings us this hope. If Jesus did not rise
up from the dead, then our faith is without any content (cf.1 Cor 15:14; Rm
4:25); if we hope in him for this life only, then we would be the “most
pitiable” of all people (cf.1 Cor 15:19) and could only grieve like all those
“who have no hope” (1 Th 4:13). Today, as always, faith in Jesus’ Resurrection
stands at the heart of the Christian Credo: “On the third day he rose again”.
In his response to the Sadducees, who did not accept this hope (Mk
12:18-27), Jesus insisted that resurrected existence will be no more return to
the conditions of the world, but a new life to come through the power and
fidelity of the God of the livign (Mk 12:24-27). Jesus himself had predicted
that he would rise up on the third day (Mk 8:31; 9:31; 10:33-34). These three
predictions of his death and Resurrection attributed to Jesus include material
added by Christians in the light of the events themselves. Yet, there seems to
be historical core: Jesus applied to himself the theme of the Righteous
Sufferer--after a violent death he would be speedily vindicated by God. He
faced death with the confidence that he would share with his companions in the
coming Kingdom (Mk 14:25).
There is historical evidence for the Resurrection of Jesus: Unlike
the apocryphal Gospel of Peter (9:35-43), the New Testament never alleges that
anyone witnessed the actual resurrection itself. Rather, it names appearances
of the Risen Christ to individuals and to groups (1 Cor 15:5-8); Lk 24:34; Mk
16:7; Acts 10:40f; Jn 20:11-18). Secondly, the tomb was empty (Mk 16:1-8). The
empty tomb was a secondary, confirmatory cause, when the first disciples came
to know that Jesus was risen from the dead.
Resurrection is a real event that, however, in iself transcends
time and space (hence the term “metahistorical”), as Jesus enters into eternal
life in his Father’s presence.
After the death of Jesus, his disciples are scattered, all frustrated
with the apparent defeat of Jesus (cf.Mk 14:27; Lk 24:21). But the news of his
Resurrection gave them a new lease of life (cf. Mt 28:2.9; Mk 16:9; Lk 24:4-11;
Jn 20:13-16). The Risen Jesus appeared to his disciples, first to women, who in
that culture did not count as real witnesses. Jesus confirms his powerful word
over death. He is the Author of Life (Acts 3:15). Powers of this world did not
have the last word. Jesus was not defeated, but overcame the sinful world.
He lived in dialogue with his Father and for the service of his
people. He was innocent, but was unjustly condemned by vested interests of the
greedy leaders. He was not a “rebel”, but a “revolutionary through love”. God
brought him to the risen life: this is the central message that gave rise to
Christian communities.
Let us turn to Jerusalem and partake in the experience of the disciples
of Jesus, without fear neither to the Jews, nor to the Romans (Lk 24:33-35). We
have to open ourselves to the Spirit of God and receive his strength to
announce the Good News to the multitude (Acts 2:4). We need the courage to say:
“We have to obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29).
To believe in Resurrection is to believe that God can bring out life
even from the death (Hb 11:19). It is to believe that the power of God, that
freed Jesus from death, can operate in us and in our communities through faith
(Eph 1:19-23). Resurrection of Jesus is operating even today. It is the climax
of God’s self-Revelation. It gives us the liberating experience of Jesus in our
community, in our day-to-day life. It helps us to struggle against the
oppressive forces of the “culture of death”. It is not easy to fight against
the evil forces so as to risk even life for the love of Kingdom values (Mk
8:35).
The first communities show us the way; they are a mirror for us: the
first enthusiasm yielded to weakness of the disciples (Mk 4:13.41; 7:17-18).
Peter and John were fast asleep (Mk 14:37-39), Judas betrayed him (Mk 14:45),
Simon Peter denied him (Mk 4:66-71) and all abandoned him (Mk 14:50). They
fled. But Jesus did not abandon them; again he went to them at the side of the
lake of Galilee (Mk 14:27-28). His disciples were discouraged.
The same Jesus comes to us: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today
and for ever” (Hb 13:8). He continues to give us the Good News (Lk 4:18). He
empowers us to fight for life, to struggle against injustice and corruption, to
continue our “revolution of love”. He gives us through faith new life, meaning
and love. “Without having seen him you love him, though you do not now see him
you believe in him and rejoice with unutterable and exalted joy” (1 Peter 18).
He is with us till the end of the world (cf.Mt 28:20).
