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On Wednesday, Artemis II left Earth for the Moon. It was a historic moment.
More than 3 million people globally watched the launch. They even did the countdown. It was all over the news.
Jesus’ resurrection did not happen that way.
It was the most important event for humanity, and yet it happened quietly. It didn’t bring attention to all people. It didn’t shock the world.
There was no commotion. No media coverage. It happened quietly. Nobody knew what happened.
That tells us a lot about the resurrection. That tells us a lot about how God works.
Even when Jesus first came into the world, he came through a humble woman, Mary. Now another humble woman, Mary, witnessed Jesus’ resurrection.
Of course, they were two different women. Mary was a common Jewish name during that time. The name came from Miriam and you know Miriam. That was Moses’ sister’s name. That’s why a lot of women had this name.
The first witness of the most important event – God used a humble woman.
During that time, a woman’s testimony was not even admissible in a Jewish court. And yet, God used the woman to be the first witness of the resurrection.
God did not use the influential people and their power to testify to the resurrection. God was intentional about it.
God uses the weak and the insignificant to do his work. You don’t need to be an important person to do the important work of God.
God does not use worldly power or fame to do his work. Why?
Because worldly power corrupts and kills. We witness that right now. Worldly power brings chaos, confusion, uncertainty, fear, and death.
Pope Leo XIV said in his speech.
Easter should be the holiest, most sacred time of the year. It is a time of peace, a time for much reflection, but as we all know, once again in the world, in so many places, we are seeing so much suffering, so many deaths, even innocent children.
We see the horrible corruption of the power. How can God use worldly power when it is so volatile, unstable, and prone to corruption?
The power of resurrection differs from worldly power.
It is the power that brings peace. It is the power that calls for justice. It is the power that raises the dead. It is not the power that destroys.
Worldly power may control the world, but it cannot control the destiny of humanity. The destiny of humanity is in the hands of God.
Worldly power can bring about death, but resurrection power puts an end to death.
Mary came to the tomb not because she somehow believed in the possibility of Jesus being alive. Mary came to the tomb out of desperation at the death of her beloved teacher.
She came with sadness. She came with deep disappointment. And she came with love.
There is a member of our KSM who used to visit the cemetery every day when he was able-bodied.
She saw the empty tomb, but it didn’t register to her that Jesus might be alive. She thought that somebody stole the body.
She saw a man standing in front of her and did not recognize that he was Jesus alive. She thought he was a custodian.
But by calling her “Mary!”, Jesus opened her eyes. That was how Jesus called her during his earthly life.
In that call, something happened. Now Mary’s eyes were open and saw Jesus alive.
After that, her life changed. According to a tradition, she was an apostle to apostles. She became totally empowered
She was the first woman who witnessed that the death is not the end. There is a power that defeats the power of death.
She didn’t articulate it but later Paul articulated in this way.
“Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
“Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:54-57)
Mary was the first one who saw a power that differs from worldly power. She experienced it.
And soon, the disciples experienced it. Then Paul experienced it.
Paul was like us. He was never with Jesus. He didn’t see the risen Jesus. But the resurrection power opened his eyes, and he saw everything differently.
To Paul, the resurrection was the most important thing. If there were no resurrection, then everything we do is futile.
Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised, and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation is in vain and your faith is in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:12-14)
If there is no resurrection, what we do is meaningless. Our worship is meaningless. Our mission is meaningless. Our life is meaningless.
Yes, resurrection is a mystery. No one can explain it. No one can prove it. No one can show it.
But it is the mysterious power.
We don’t see the resurrection but we experience the resurrection power. The resurrection power still works in our lives.
Through the resurrection power, our eyes are opened. The resurrection power turns despair into hope. The resurrection power turns sorrow into joy. The resurrection power turns doubt into faith.
My friends, what you need is not worldly power. What you need is the resurrection power. That is what matters in the end.
That humble woman’s testimony spread all over the world from generation to generation. It came all the way to us. Thank you, Mary, for sharing the good news with all of us.
Jesus is risen today! Live a life with the Resurrection Power.
Happy Easter!
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