Sequel to yesterday’s reflection, Fr. Chidube Ubili, OP reflects today on “the resurrection: ceremonies, evidence and reality” taken from Jn. 20:1-9.
- After a forty (40)-day Lenten journey that began on Ash Wednesday, 25th February 2020, we finally arrived at our destination, Easter Sunday, 12th April, 2020. Lenten Season is usually rigorous and stressful because of intensive spiritual exercises of Prayer, Penance and Charity. This year, the rigour and stress of the season was further heightened by a fourth element, the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. Coincidently, COVID-19 which was “on tour of the world” arrived Nigeria through the Italian index case, as we began the Lenten season on 25th February and was officially diagnosed and confirmed on 27th February 2020.
- Thus, COVID-19 was present at the beginning of this year’s Lenten Season. As the Season progressed, the impact of its presence progressed too; from mild to serious then critical. By the time its impact attained the critical level, especially during the last two weeks of the Season including Holy Week, the Season had lost its usual external “appeal and attractions”. A nationwide Lock-Down (LD) and Stay-At-Home (SAH) was declared to stem the tide of COVID-19. What a great pain it was (and still remains) that Nigerians, rather than congregate in the Church as they usually do when other human structures (economic, social, political etc) fail them, they were compelled to be distant from Church.
- The aura, beauty, mystical content and character of the Easter Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday Solemn Vigil) ceremonies were not merely missed. There were also both painful regrets and resentment in missing them.
—It was a universal experience, not limited to us, in Nigeria as COVID-19 had gone “international” – a pandemic. Whoever imagined a scenario of the Pope, a Bishop or a Priest celebrating these great mysteries of faith in a Cathedral or Parish Church with empty pews? The Easter Vigil was “exceptionally pitiable “.
There were no beautiful candlelight procession, no well-rehearsed and near-perfect liturgical movements amidst exotic decorations, no special renditions in seeming angelic voices and lo and behold, the classical Handel’s Alleluia Chorus was conspicuously absent.
—Of course, the height of the “missed elements”, especially for traditional Catholic Christians was their beloved “”Holy Communion – The real presence of Jesus; Body and Blood , Soul and Divinity””.
- Indeed COVID-19 has done its worse damage to our faith, by stripping the Easter Triduum of its “external” glitz and glamour, so to speak. The glitz and glamour is qualified as “external” because we speak of what belongs to the “order of nature”; in the custody and control of human authority. COVID-19 has no effect and influence on what belongs to the “order of grace” in the custody and control of God and God alone; over and above human knowledge, understanding and wisdom.
- Therefore, even without the external glitz and glamour of the Triduum, especially the Solemn Easter Vigil, the essence, meaning, grace, blessings and favours of the mysteries of faith they convey remain intact and efficacious.
—What we missed are the human signs and symbols used to communicate the mysteries of faith, not the mysteries themselves, because they are accessible by intention or desire. The signs and symbols are of the order of nature, transmitted by humans and therein are the glitz and glamour. The mysteries of faith are of the order of grace, transmitted by God, without glitz or glamour necessarily.
- Therefore, even when the glitz and glamour of the signs and symbols are absent due to an emergency such as COVID-19, the grace of God satisfies or provides what is desired through faith.
—Our utmost focus and concern in this “COVID-19 Easter Season” should be to affirm the reality of the Resurrection; even without the glitz and glamour of the signs and symbols that usually herald the celebration.
—What this means is that our faith must now advance fast beyond the familiar beautiful ceremonies which we now miss and strive to behold and grasp the reality by evidence, both general and personal.
7. Scripture provides us with three (3) essential evidence or testimonial of the Resurrection:
—The Empty Tomb: This was witnessed by Mary Magdalene, early in the morning of the first day of the week – Sunday (Cf. Jn. 20:1-9). This narrative of a man named Jesus who died and rose again is historically indisputable, both in Christian and secular history. However, whoever disputes it should offer an intelligible and convincing counter-narrative.
—Post-Resurrection Apparitions: The several appearances of Jesus after His gruesome murder on the Cross are more than enough evidence of the reality of His resurrection. Scripture records that He appeared to Mary Magdalene (Jn. 20:11-18), the Disciples without Thomas (Jn. 20:19-23), the Disciples with Thomas (Jn. 20:24-29), the Seven Fishing Disciples (Jn. 21:1ff) and the two Disciples on the way to Emmaus (Lk. 24: 13ff).
—Mystical Life: This is the foremost and surest evidence of and testimonial of the Resurrection, for those living in this age. The first two evidences or testimonials are historically true and tenable. But, the evidence and testimony of the mystical life; that is the “life hidden with Christ in God”(Cf. Col. 3: 1-4) is most visible, practical and accessible, here and now.
- It is by the “Christian Mystical Life”, or simply “Life in Christ”, that a person’s values, focus and meaning are shaped by faith in Christ. Such a life makes the Resurrection a current and daily experience; relevant, practical and efficacious in the world today for winning souls and changing lives, effecting healing, consoling and comforting the distressed and depressed, banishing the forces and powers of darkness and preparing for the ultimate reign of God, when “God shall be all in all” (1Cor.15:28).
—Indeed, there is NO tenable controversy about the Lord’s Resurrection. In fact, it is not that “He Rose”; rather it is that “He Is Risen”; because He remains alive, forever and ever. Amen. Praise The Lord!
HAPPY EASTER…