ENRIQUE F. OCAMPO III MRS.

FLORENCIA CERRO

GRADE 11 SAINT PETER OCAL COMMUNICATION

The Resurrection
John 20: 1-9
20 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb
early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away
from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other
disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the
Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 3 So
Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the
tomb. 4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran
Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen
cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following
him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the
face cloth, which had been on Jesus'[a] head, not lying with the linen cloths
but folded up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who had reached
the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did
not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.

Homily
 Good afternoon, my dear beloved brothers and sisters in Christ. The gospel tells us how
Jesus was condemned to death and resurrected. Jesus was condemned to death by
Jewish authorities with false accusations. He was severely persecuted and finally was put
to a humiliating death. The only reason is that he went about doing good and healing all
the ills of common people and became friend of the poor and the sinners thus throwing a
challenge to the religious establishment. The evil establishment, remembering Jesus
words that he would rise again, took pains to get the tomb sealed, and left a guard on
watch. this is the only instance of human history to place a guard for a tomb. Despite all
this, the power of God triumphed over evil, raised Jesus to life in glory. The closest of
Jesus disciples, (the two Apostles and Mary Magdalene) were chosen to see the empty
tomb and see for themselves the ultimate victory of truth over falsehood. After this
experience, those that were timid and fearful till now, healing all kinds of diseases and
infirmities, the visible signs of oppression by the devil. Do we have the experience of the
Risen Jesus? Have we put our old self to death, and got it buried with Jesus? Have we
been Risen with Christ? If so, we ought to really seek the things from above, not setting
our minds on things that are merely on earth. We should truly be ready to face the
hardships of life, for the values for which Christ suffered and died? Then only we can
authentically celebrate Easter today? AMEN!