In the reading from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans, the great apostle reminded us that “just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life.” The COVID-19 pandemic persists in plaguing us. With each day we witness its deadly consequences upon the most vulnerable and those who care for them. We keep our distance, cover our faces, and ponder a still uncertain future. Normalcy has become a longing and a question? When will we go back to our normal routine? Can we go back to our normal lives? Some public officials have used the expression a “new normal” without specifying what that means. St. Paul’s words to us should encourage our own self-examination. “Just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life.”
Jesus’ resurrection was not a return to normal. His death and resurrection brought about a radically new day, a newness of life. In the resurrection account from the gospel according to St. Matthew, a mighty tremor shook the earth. This detail was not just a dramatic flourish from the evangelist. Jesus’ resurrection was real. It shook all creation and altered time.
His resurrection shook and changed our humanity. In the resurrection of our Lord from the dead, Jesus did not leave his humanity behind to corrupt and disintegrate in the tomb. The tomb was empty. He was raised from the dead, God and man, so that we might share in his newness of life. His risen body, revealed to Mary Magdalene and later to the other disciples, radiated his eternal divine nature as the Son of God and the glorified nature of humanity redeemed by the blood of Christ. Jesus sits forever at the righthand of the Father as God and man, making him our eternal high priest and our mediator before the Father.
What did not change is his undying love and affection for his disciples and friends. The fidelity of Christ, with those he loved, endured. For this reason, those who became his witnesses were his disciples and friends, Mary Magdalene, Simon Peter, Thomas.
The resurrection of Jesus is historical. It is also personal. Jesus transformed, once and for all, the course of human history, opening up a new horizon for humanity, for all those believe in him and belong to him. The wounds of his hands and feet, the pierced wound of his most Sacred Heart, are the merciful doors to this newness of life.
This redemptive transformation began with his passion and death. It was so for Christ and so it is for all those who are baptized in Christ. Again, St. Paul reminds us, “If we have grown into union with him through a death like his, we shall also be united with him in the resurrection.” The newness of life of which St. Paul speaks brings us into communion with the saving, transforming, death and resurrection. Remember that Mary Magdalene and the other Mary cited as witnesses of the resurrection were also witnesses to his passion and death. They accompanied him to the cross, waited as his beaten body was taken down and buried, and then they came to the tomb just as the new day was dawning. Those who hope to be witnesses of his resurrection must also be witnesses to his suffering and death.
There is a newness of life in the mysteries of the Easter Triduum which we must discover and embrace. The newness of life brought to us by the Good Shepherd, crucified and risen from the dead, challenges us not to wait for a return to normalcy. His glorified presence among us invites us to a new heart and a new spirit, prophesized by Ezekiel. Even as the pandemic continues its devastation, the Risen Jesus commands us to be a new creation both in the sufferings we endure in solidarity with others as well as the hope we may bring by our endeavors to live for God in Christ Jesus.
St. John Paul II, reflected on this in his apostolic letter, Salvifici Dolores (Saving Suffering). We enter into communion with the sufferings of Christ, because he already chose to share in all human suffering. By sharing in the redemptive suffering of Christ we become part of the new creation. As Paul said to the Romans, “We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now; and not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, we also groan within ourselves as we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.” (Rom. 8.22-23) Is not all creation groaning under pains of the coronavirus? In this tribulation, may our sacrifices be the labor pains that give birth to the newness of life. May humility open our hearts to Lord’s amazing merciful grace. May we pray more fervently with Christ, who prays unceasingly for us. May patience quiet our restless spirit. May perseverance keep us constant in charity.
May our suffering be a communion with the blood of Christ. May our solidarity with others be a participation in the body of Christ. As Paul said to the Philippians, “That I may know him (Christ) and the power of his Resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that if possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead." (Phil. 3.10-11)
Hope not for a return to normality. Hope for and strive living for God in Christ Jesus.
Las mujeres fueron a la tumba de Jesús en el amanecer del primer día de la semana. Ellas, que fueron testigos de la muerte de Jesús, sin ninguna anticipación, llegaron a la tumba para presenciar la resurrección del Señor. Su testimonio, contado por todos los relatos evangélicos, no solo indicó lo que sucedió con Cristo. Ellas experimentaron el comienzo de la nueva creación inaugurado por la muerte y resurrección de Jesús. El amanecer del primer día de la semana habla de una nueva obra creadora realizada por el Padre Dios Creador.
María Magdalena y los otros discípulos encontraron la tumba vacía. Este nos dice, que en la resurrección de entre los muertos, el Señor Jesús fue levantado Dios y hombre. Cristo no dejó atrás su humanidad. Se resucitó como el divino hijo eterno del Padre y como el hijo de hombre con un cuerpo glorioso. Así, por su muerte y resurrección fue el primogénito de una nueva humanidad. Reconozcamos el significado de este acontecimiento y apreciemos nuevamente nuestra participación en esta obra creadora y redentora por medio del bautismo. Como San Pablo dijo a los Romanos, “En efecto, por el bautismo fuimos sepultados con él en su muerte, para que, así como Cristo resucitó de entre los muertos por la gloria del Padre, así también nosotros llevemos una vida nueva.” (Rom. 6.3-11)
La plaga del coronavirus sigue afligiendo nuestra comunidad sin ninguna señal de una resolución pronta. Muchos ansían un retorno a la normalidad, al ritmo normal de la vida. Otros hablan de llegada de una nueva normalidad sin indicar como o que. El buen pastor resucitado nos proclama “una vida nueva”. Mejor que tomemos en serio las palabras de San Pablo para que hallemos en medio de las muchas incertidumbres cotidianas de esta pandemia, el comienzo doloroso de una nueva creación gloriosa.
María Magdalena fue el primera testigo de la resurrección porque ella también fue testigo del sufrimiento y la muerte de Cristo. De muchas maneras todos estamos caminando en la vía crucis de esta plaga. Pidamos la constancia de fe para llegar a encontrar a Cristo resucitado caminando con nosotros. No nos quedemos atados esperando un regreso al pasado. Así seríamos ciegos al amanecer de Cristo entre nosotros. Confiemos, con San Pablo, que en esta vida, especialmente en la jornada de esta pandemia, toda la creación está pasado por los dolores de parto. Nos dijo el apóstol, “también nosotros, aunque ya tengamos el Espíritu como un anticipo de lo que hemos de recibir, gemimos en nuestro interior mientras esperamos nuestra herencia de hijos y la redención de nuestro cuerpo.” (Rom. 8.22-23)
Pongámonos solidarios con Cristo quien aceptó sufrir por nosotros y por su pasión dolorosa ha abierto el camino a la resurrección. Que la humildad de Jesús nos haga más dispuestos a su divina misericordia. Que la paciencia de Jesús tranquilice nuestra ansiedad. Que la perseverancia de Jesús dé constancia a nuestra caridad. Que la oración de Jesús nos una más con el Padre.
Cristo ha resucitado y ha inaugurado una nueva creación. Espero, en estos días de la Pascua, que Buen Pastor nos traiga la paz y nos encamine por este momento oscuro al amanecer de nueva gozosa esperanza.