WE ARE ALL WITNESSES
Happy Easter!
What happened to Peter? Peter who chickened out when a servant approached him with a question during the trials regarding his relationship with Jesus, “You are not one of his disciples, are you? His response was “I am not.” Today in the first reading we heard of Peter’s boldness as he fearlessly proclaims the suffering, death and resurrection of Christ. Peter acknowledged that he and others are witnesses. What a change!
In the gospel, we heard that Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, after encountering the Angel at the entrance of the tomb, hurried back to deliver the good news of the resurrection of Jesus to the rest of the disciples. However, as the two ladies were on their way, Jesus met them. Jesus greeted them and told them “Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” Jesus calls those apostles who run away when he was arrested, brothers. He called Peter who denied him, a brother.
Jesus sent these two women on a mission, hence, they come evangelists. Why were these two ladies given this important mission? Did the apostles believe the women’s story? Mary Magdalene was mentioned in all four gospels as the first or one of the first to be present at the tomb on that first morning. In the ancient world, the trust worthiness of witnesses was considered essential, but not all testimony is regarded as equal merit. Women for example are not qualified witnesses in ancient Judaism. The Jewish historian Flavius Josephus (37 AD) wrote, “From women let no evidence be accepted, because of the levity and temerity of their sex.” In view of the prejudice against women testimony in antiquity, no one would have invented the story of the women at the empty too.
Saint Paul says, “If there is no resurrection of the dead, then neither has Christ been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then empty [too] is our preaching; empty, too, your faith. Then we are also false witnesses to God, because we testified against God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, neither has Christ been raised, and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins. Then those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are the most pitiable people of all. But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep (1 Corinthians 15: 13-20)
He is risen. He is alive. We are called to be witnesses of the risen Lord. The world needs us more than ever. The church has what the world needs. The Resurrection is a testament to the love and mercy of God, who sent His Son to save us from sin and death. May we look for opportunities to witness to Christ this week.
Have a blessed Week
