Easter Sunday

Circumstances sometimes bring out different outcomes to different people. Different people take good or bad news in a different way, and by observing how they react or response, we could learn more about others and learn from the experience, so that, hopefully, we would know what to do if we were involved in such a situation. Even in our faith journey, whether we can grow in faith or remain as we presently are depends on our response to certain situations. In today's Gospel, we see three different characters responding quite differently to the tomb that first Easter morning.

The first character we come across is Mary of Magdala who came to the tomb while it was still dark. She sees the stone which covered the tomb has been moved away and does not enter. Perhaps, she was afraid, perhaps she was unsure what to expect, but instead of entering the tomb, she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved. Sometimes we too are like Mary of Magdala. Instead of going further to discover what has happened, we choose to run away. We are not prepared to go further or deeper because we fear that we may not find what we were expecting or we fear that we would not be prepared to face what is inside. But unless we take the risk and enter the tomb, we will always be standing outside speculating, wondering, guessing, never knowing the truth, as we see in what Mary of Magdala said in the Gospel: "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb and we don’t know where they have put him." Some people go through life without making important decisions; or they stay clear of commitment; or they fear going deeper into any relationship because they are fearful or are not prepared to face the changes that may take place. But unless we are prepared to take the risk, unless we are prepared to make the commitment, unless we are prepared to go deeper or further, we will always remain outside fearful, doubtful and uncertain.

Next we come across Peter. He and the other disciple run to the tomb upon hearing the news from Mary of Magdala. He is slower than the other disciple. Perhaps it is his age and he is unable to run that fast anymore ("no more spring chicken" as some may say) or perhaps he is also fearful of what he may find at the tomb. Even when Peter entered the tomb, he seemed clueless and confused as to what had happened, since the Gospel tells us: "Till this moment they had failed to understand the teaching of scripture, that he must rise from the dead." Some of us may be like him, we hesitate, postpone, procrastinate, take it slow and easy or even drag our feet. We do this because we fear the truth which may challenge our status quo; we fear the pain, lost of face or embarrassment it may bring because our faults and our limitations may be exposed; we are afraid or are not prepared to face our weaknesses or shortcomings. Perhaps Peter may have been thinking: What if Jesus had actually risen? Would Jesus punish or reprimand him for not being faithful or confront him with his betrayal? Then upon seeing inside the tomb, Peter could have found it difficult to comprehend what was going on; or he could have been worried and bewildered as to what had happened to Jesus. For some, it seems better to pretend as if nothing had happened; to sweep it under the carpet and hope no one knows or finds out; or to be blind to the truth and continue living in our own world. But unless we are ready and willing to admit our faults and face up to our failures and move forward, there can never be growth, there can never be change or improvement, we could be stuck in a rut, we could be stagnant in our faith and our relationship with God.

Finally, we come across the disciple whom Jesus loved. His name is not mentioned because he represents and shows what a disciple should be, a disciple who is prepared to take risks, who is not afraid and willing to put one's trust in God's providence, who is willing to make a commitment, who is ready to face the truth, make the change and move forward. We are told in the Gospel that when he entered the empty tomb, "he saw and he believed."

As we celebrate Easter Sunday, let us ask ourselves honestly: what sort of a disciple have we so far become? Are we like Mary Magdalene? Are we like Peter? Or have we become more like the disciple whom Jesus loved? The fact is: Jesus has risen, but there are still some who are not aware or are unwilling to acknowledge or admit this fact. What about you? Are you still crippled or paralysed by your fears and are fearful or reluctant to enter the tomb? Or are you prepared to take the risk, change your perception or ways, and make a firm commitment to become true followers of Jesus?