Jesus Brings Life Changing Hope- Weekday Homily Video

 From despair to Hope. Easter is about restoring hope. The news of Jesus’s resurrection brought hope to people who were overwhelmed by despair and grief. The disciples were wrapped in disappointment that all their hopes on Jesus as the Messiah had been dashed by his brutal death. It is possible that some were grappling with guilt of having abandoned Jesus and fleeing in fear. The gospel today, we have Mary Magdalene described as weeping. She was despondent that not only had Jesus died, but also the idea that his body had been taken to an unknown location and is not able to give a proper burial. It was to this kind of despair that, the fact of Jesus’ resurrection broke in with life-changing hope. Easter tells us that the risen Christ can break into our lives with genuine hope amid our worst trials.  

Confronting Empty Tombs

It is possible many of us are confronted with all kinds of our empty tombs; the loss of a loved one who has died, someone dear to us seriously ill, the betrayal from those we strongly lean on for comfort and strength, the anxieties of wars and what tomorrow may bring. Certainly, the good news of Easter does not ignore the realities of life; suffering and pain will still be part of our day-to-day life. However, Easter proclaims that all these sad realities we do experience or encounter in our lives are not the end of the story. They do not have the final word; Love does and Hope does.

Jesus asks the key question; “Why are you weeping?” It is into that deep grief of Mary, that the risen Lord steps to restore her hope that all is not dead. Initially Mary’s grief blinds her to Jesus’s presence, she even mistakes him for a gardener. Calling her by her name, Mary is able to think about the implications of that question. Soon she realizes it is the risen Lord. And her sorrows turn to joy; they turn into hope.

Our Sorrows Transformed

Even the very fact that the risen Christ first appeared to Mary Magdalene and not our Mother Mary or the disciples, (and we recall that Mary Magdalene had seamy past. Jesus cast out satanic power from her), is a profound statement that the risen Christ shines a ray of hope for every person struggling with sin and guilt. If the risen Lord chose Mary Magdalene to be the first witness of His resurrection, then he can save us all from our iniquities and use us to serve him in spreading the great news of hope.

Mary’s encounter with the risen Christ symbolizes the personal relationship Jesus offers to each of us. As Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, her sorrows mirror the deep grief and despair we do face in our lives. However, just as the weeping may endure for a night, joy comes in the morning. Through faith, our sorrows can be transformed into joy and hope. When Mary initially fails to recognize Jesus standing close to her, it serves as a reminder that in times of distress we may overlook God’s presence in our lives. The Lord comes to us as he came to Mary to bring light into our darkness and from being paralyzed with grief or despair, he empowers us to become messengers of Easter joy to others.

• Today’s Readings
  
  
• Father Fulgen's inspirational homily was recorded live during Mass at the Father Peyton Center this morning. You can view the Mass (and the Rosary at the 30-minute mark) on the Family Rosary YouTube page.
  
  
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