Bishop Jose Mukala
Bishop of Kohima
When the Risen Lord appeared to the apostles they were not expecting him. They were surprised. We may ask: did Jesus not foretell his resurrection more than once?
Sure he did. But his death was so real. This fact paralyzed the thinking of the apostles. Their beloved master really did die. He spoke no more. He was laid in the tomb. The two disciples who left for Emmaus were utterly down hearted and dejected. Their hopes all shattered. Thomas who was absent when Jesus appeared the first time, refused to believe that he had risen. Did the other disciples really believe when the women broke the news to them? Resurrection is not something to be taken for granted. It is bound to be a surprise; a happy surprise indeed. And that is what we celebrate today. The resurrection of Jesus, our Messiah and Lord, our saviour and redeemer.
Human beings are generally obstinate in their optimism. They give up only when there is nothing more to support their hope. The disciples had nothing more base themselves to hope for except his words and references to his resurrection. And their total helplessness is especially felt in the face of death. Death brings silence and darkness. It engulfs everything and there is no future.
Jesus’ resurrection has changed everything. There is still life after death. Sin has been overcome and life is without end. The shouts of Alleluia have broken the silence and the light has dispelled the darkness. Every year we celebrate the victory of Christ over sin and death. We resolved to live in this victory and work for peace and prosperity. Still we land up in the same mire and we need another celebration of Easter, another resolution renewed and emphatically ascertained. We want to live in peace and work for prosperity. We want everyone to live and give glory to God. But what we see and experience is just the contrary. Bloodshed and violence every where. Scams and irregularities abound and public is made to suffer the brunt of all such behaviour and systems of the powerful and the rich.
Are we still in darkness and behave like children of darkness. What about the light that Christ has brought to every individual person giving him life and light through his glorification. It is a triumph of life brought back to us. Actually we find ourselves in a situation not very different from that of the apostles after Jesus’ burial.
Our resolutions to do better vanish time and again into empty wishes and plans. We do not do what we know to be good and we do what we know to be evil, as St. Paul himself confessed. We preach the sacredness of marriage and the importance of family, but the dominating culture goes in diametrically opposite directions. Look at the number abortions taking place in our big cities like Kohima and Dimapur. The many dysfunctional families are a reminder to us that we care very little for the life long commitment that we make at the time of marriage. Are our families sanctuaries of life and love? Should not our families be schools of Christian values where the victory of Christ over sin and death find concrete expression in the lives lived in peace and harmony.
But Jesus comes again. “Do not be afraid!” he says. “I am the life and the resurrection. Rise up! I rose up only on the third day after my burial”. So let us get up once more. Let us allow him to bring to us again this year his surprising good news that he is risen and that he has brought us hope and life.
May the Risen Lord abundantly bless you and your dear ones with peace and joy that only He can give. A Happy Easter to all.
