From Eden to Resurrection: A Journey of Redemption
April 2, 2024 - Tuesday in the Octave of Easter
Acts 2:36-41; Psalm 33:4-5, 18-19, 20 and 22; John 20:11-18
Wisława Szymborska, a Nobel Prize-winning Polish poet, penned the poem "I am rethinking the world," presenting a utopian vision that contrasts with the harsh realities of life. However, she failed to address why the real world differs from the idealized one we often dream about. This issue is illuminated in the first reading.
On the day of Pentecost, Peter openly declared that the Judeans were responsible for the crucifixion of Jesus. The responsibility for wars, terrorism, violence, and injustice that plague our cities and communities lies with ourselves. Yet, there is a way out of this cycle of evil. Like the listeners of Peter's sermon, we must acknowledge our culpability, repent, and renew the power of baptismal grace. By allowing the Holy Spirit to mold our hearts, we can begin to recognize that the earth is “full of the goodness of the Lord” (Psalm 33:5).
In today's Gospel, Saint John shares Mary's experience on Easter morning. The angels positioned at the head and feet of Jesus' empty tomb, reminiscent of the cherubim overshadowing the ark of the covenant, signify Jesus’ body as our throne of grace— the propitiation for our sins.
Initially mistaking Jesus for a gardener, Mary's encounter with Him in a garden mirrors the events of Eden, where humanity’s story began. Similarly, we find ourselves in a new garden, where Jesus, the gardener, heralds the dawn of a new creation. The cross symbolizes the tree of life, and the risen Christ's presence signifies the victory of grace over sin and life over death. Just as the first sin occurred in Eden, the resurrection of Jesus initiates a new creation where all who are baptized in Him and transformed by the Holy Spirit partake in this renewal.
The proclamation that “the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord” and Mary's declaration "I have seen the Lord" encapsulate the essence of a narrative that starts with creation and culminates in a vision of a new heaven and earth. Through the story of Jesus Christ, from birth to resurrection, we witness God's plan for salvation. Jesus' resurrection marks the beginning of a new creation, where those in Christ become a new creation themselves. As 2 Corinthians 5:17 proclaims, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come" (2 Cor 5:17).
Today's liturgy of the World invites us to reflect on our own role in the cycle of sin and redemption. By acknowledging our failings, seeking repentance, and allowing the transformative power of grace to work within us, we become partakers in the unfolding story of salvation and the promise of a new beginning. Each person who came to Christ and is transformed by the Holy Spirit, declares with the Psalmist that "the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord".