“He is Risen”
Father Peter Fitzgibbons
April 20-21, 2019
Scripture: John 20: 1-9
1) On the first day of the week, a Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. 2) So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.” 3) So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. 4) They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; 5) he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. 6) When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, 7) and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. 8) Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. 9) For they did not yet understand the scripture that he had to rise from the dead.
God created humans with both a body and a soul. After we have fulfilled our work on earth and suffered the burdens of old age, we will close our eyes and our bodies will die. We were never meant to die; God created us to enjoy eternal life with Him. But, thanks to our original parents, we all will experience death. However, the body does not wish to die even though it participated as we committed the sin of gluttony by eating and drinking too much. Nevertheless, we will pass, or transition, from this life to the next and go before God. Our bodies will be perfected, because nothing is imperfect in God’s presence.
It is natural to fear death. But, our fear of death is lessened as we draw closer to the Lord. The more you fall in love with God and trust Him, the easier the thought of death becomes. Satan, the father of lies, tells us that death is miserable. He also promises us joy, but never delivers. These are all lies. We tend to believe the worse, because it’s so hard to believe the truth… that God has an overwhelming love for us…that He is merciful and will forgive our sins.
We know what will happen when we die…what waits on the other side. There will be no pain, no sorrow, no suffering…only perfect joy. Peter, James, and John observed the transfiguration of the Lord while He spoke to Moses and Elijah and as the veil of humanity was lowered. (Matthew 17:1-4). We, like them, will also see God face-to-face. Some will stay long enough for just a cup of coffee and others will spend eternity with Him.
I once met a man in Hospice who had been married for 75 years. When the man died, his wife said “He left me.” I told her that her husband had just left for work and that he was preparing a new place for her. Cooperate with the Lord so that you can be with Him in the next life. Sometimes, we feel abandoned by God. But, He never has and never will leave us; instead, He keeps circling and hoping we will reach out to Him. Our Lord is listening and waiting. He said that He is preparing a place for us and that we know the way (John 14:2-4). From the cross, He has given us the means to join him.
How will you apply this message to your life? Will you draw close to God so that the fear of death is lessened and you can spend eternity with Him?