Resurrection Results

Seeing how the Resurrection changes everything

04/04/2021

John 20:1-9 On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.” So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead.

Which do you like to hear first, the good news or the bad news? I always want the bad news first and the good news last, like eating my salad first and the dessert last. But can you always tell the difference between the good news and the bad news, which is which? Just listen to this little joke. After dying in a car crash, three friends go to heaven for an orientation. They were all asked the same question: “When you are in the casket at your funeral, friends and family are mourning over you, what would you like to hear them say about you?” The first man immediately responds, “I would like to hear them say that I was one of the greatest doctors of my time and a great man.” The second man says, “I would like to hear them say that I was a wonderful husband and a terrific teacher who made a huge difference in the children of tomorrow.” The third man thinks for a moment and answers: ‘I would like to hear them say… ‘Look! He’s moving!’”

Now, all joking aside, ask yourself: would hearing “Look! He’s moving!” while you are in the casket sound like good news or bad news? It sounds pretty good, right? After all, who doesn’t want to come back from the dead, especially at a funeral and prank your friends? But what eventually happens to everyone who comes back to life? They have to die again. It’s like that truism: the only two things in life that are certain are death and taxes. Everyone eventually exits through the door of death.

Even every person whom Jesus raised from the dead had to die again. The widow of Nain’s son in Luke 7 died again; Jairus’ daughter in Luke 8 died again; and even Lazarus in John 11 died again. When it comes to death, therefore, it is not easy to tell the good news from the bad news. I would suggest to you that the good news is not living a little longer on earth; the really good news is living a lot longer in heaven, indeed, living forever. But for those who have not found faith, it is hard to tell the difference between the good news and the bad news.

On that first Easter Sunday, Mary of Magdala goes to Jesus’ tomb and finds it empty. She runs to tell Peter and the Beloved Disciple (John), “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.” Mary didn’t say, “Look! He’s moving!” She said, “Look! He’s gone!” Now, did Mary think that was good news or bad news? Well, I am convinced Mary, Peter and John thought it was actually bad news. Why? Well, not only had Jesus died, but now his body had apparently been stolen. So, we read at the end of today’s gospel, “For they did not understand the Scripture, that he had to rise from the dead.” But after they see the risen Jesus they have what is called “resurrection faith,” which opens their eyes to tell the difference between the good news and the bad news. They realized there is no more bad news, not even death.

My friends, do you realize that we have had ten funerals in the past three months? I hope their families will not mind me mentioning their names out loud. On January 13, we had the funeral for Gene Borengasser, on Jan. 26 for Dr. Kent Magrini, on Feb. 5 for Van Philaly, on Feb. 20 for Tom Caldarera, on Feb. 23 for Katie Reith, on Mar. 11 for Mary Maestri, on Mar. 20 for Eva de la Cruz, on Mar. 24 for Larry Komp, on Mar. 26 for Rosella Boerner, and on Mar. 31 for Carolyn Schmidt. I am sure their family and friends having gone to visit their graves, just like Mary of Magdala went to visit Jesus’ tomb.

But is their passing entirely bad news? That is when we must look through the eyes of resurrection faith. In other words, we don’t want to say, “Look! He’s moving!” because we know that would only mean Tom or Katie, Eva or Larry, Kent or Carolyn would have to die again. Rather, resurrection faith tells us these beloved dead will now live forever in heaven. The resurrection means there is no more bad news, not even death.

My friends, may I draw out one more result of resurrection? Heck, this is the only time some of you come to church, so I have to give you all I got! I am convinced that the resurrection of Jesus changes all bad news into only good news. In Rm 5:20, St. Paul declares: “Where sin abounds, there grace abound all the more.” Paul could just as well have said, “Where bad news abounds, there good news abounds all the more.” Why? Resurrection faith assures us that the return on the investment (ROI) of Christianity is not limited to this world but also realized in the next.

It’s like that recruiting poster for the priesthood: “The priesthood doesn’t pay much, but the retirement plan is out of this world!” Our retirement plan is the resurrection. Therefore, the sacrifices we make as priests and deacons, the pains and problems you experience raising children, the hurts and humiliations you suffer as a spouse, the ways we provide for the poor, in a word, all the crosses we carry as Christians, will be rewarded in the resurrection. In other words, there is no bad news in this world that Jesus cannot turn into good news in the next.

The next time someone asks you, “Which would you like to hear first, the good news or the bad news?” What will you reply? If you have resurrection faith, you can say: “It doesn’t matter. Easter means there is no more bad news.”

Praised be Jesus Christ!