First Reading: Acts 10:34a. 37-43; Psalm: 118. R. v. 24; Second Reading: Col 3:1-4; Gospel: Jn 20:1-9

WE SHALL BECOME LIKE HIM

BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP

Every Catholic in the nascent stage of faith must have experienced the surprise that Christmas is not the greatest feast in the Catholic Church but Easter. This surprise stems from the colourful and jolly aura peculiar to Christmas which makes it look more festive than Easter. We have Christmas tree, Christmas carol, Christmas party, the crib, and even the snow. These are things we usually do not associate with Easter celebration. But these things do not change the fact that Easter is the greatest feast in the Church. As St Paul tells us, “If Christ has not been raised from the dead, then our faith is in vain.” (1 Cor 15:17).

Imagine that Christ died and never rose from the dead. That will be the end of him and the end of all that he preached and taught. Central to the teachings of Christ is the promise of the resurrection and eternal life to those who believe in him. Christ said, “I am the resurrection and the life, he who believes in me, though he dies, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.” (Jn 11:25). So, what makes Easter the greatest feast in the Church is the fulfilment of this promise. That is, the salvation of the cross and the assurance of eternal life through the death and resurrection of Christ. If there was Christmas without Easter, we would have been damned.

So, Easter happened that we might be saved, and that our faith may be strengthened. But the disciples were not ready for the Easter story because they failed to understand. The empty tomb got them troubled. They were beclouded by doubt and still could not believe that Christ had risen. Mary Magdalene had to report that the body of the Lord was stolen; not that Christ had risen. Since the stone was rolled away and the tomb found empty, that was the easiest conclusion to make. Christ may have said that he will rise again. But nothing like this ever happened before. So, it was hard to believe. Christ would appear to them later on. And this would eliminate the fear that his body was stolen. Christ is truly risen. They saw him, touched him and dined with him.

If Christ died and rose from the dead, then his promises are true, and our faith is not in vain. Easter happened not only that we might be saved but that we might also believe in the promises of the risen Christ. In Christ, we see what we shall become for those who believe in him. Our bodies shall be raised to be like his glorified body, and we shall share in the eternal life he promised.

What is a glorified body? And how does it look like? The sacred Scriptures and the Catholic theology teach that our glorified resurrected bodies will possess four distinctive properties or qualities just like that of Christ: Impassibility, Subtlety, Agility and Clarity.

Impassibility means that our glorified bodies will no longer suffer physical sickness or death. Regarding this St Paul writes, “So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable.” (1 Cor 15:42).

Subtlety means that our bodies will be spiritualised. Though we shall possess a body, but this body will be spirit-like just like Christ who possessed a spiritual body and was able to pass through closed doors. About this St Paul writes, “It is sown a physical body, but it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a physical body, there is also a spiritual body.” (1 Cor 15:44).

Agility means that our glorified body will be agile and will obey the soul with the greatest ease in speed and movement. Just like our risen Lord was able to bilocate and travel far distances in an instance, our glorified bodies will similarly experience agility in movement. St Paul was speaking of this when he said, “It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power.” (1 Cor 15:43).

Clarity means brightness and beauty. Our glorified body will be free from any deformity and will be filled with beauty and radiance. Matthew 13:43 attests to this, “The righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.”

St Thomas Aquinas summarised these four properties of a glorified body in his Summa Contra Gentiles IV, 86: “thus will his body be raised to the characteristics of heavenly bodies – it will be lighted (clarity), incapable of suffering (impassible), without difficulty and labour in movement (agility), and most perfectly perfected by its form (subtlety).”

When we speak of a glorified resurrected body, we speak of God perfecting what he created. Since we were created by God as bodily beings, the fullness of our redemption will also include a resurrected, glorified body. This body will share the same characteristics of the glorified body of Christ. So, as we celebrate Easter today, we celebrate the renewal of our faith in the resurrection, in the glorified body, and in the eternal life of heaven. Christ invites us today to doubt no more but believe. If Christ kept his promise that he will rise again; he will definitely keep his promise that he will raise to life those who believe in him.

On our part, we must keep the faith alive by preaching and living it just like the apostles did. For having witnessed his resurrection, their faith was strengthened by the Holy Spirit that they began to witness to Christ. We hear Peter’s witness in our first reading. He testified that they witnessed the resurrection of Christ and that they ate and drank with him. So, Easter happened. It is not a fairy tale but a reality. And to those who believe and live according to the gospel of Christ; they also will share in the resurrection of Easter.

Wishing you all a happy Easter celebration.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY

Risen Lord, as we anticipate to share in your resurrection, strengthen our faith that we may live and preach your message to be united with you in heaven. Amen.