The Story Behind The Empty Tomb

Acts 2:14, 22-33
Matt. 28:8-15

We are in the octave of Easter. Today’s readings testify to the Resurrection of Christ. At this very special time of the year, our first reading is taken from the Acts of the Apostles. The story of Acts is the story of the Church, the story of the Apostles who begin the task of going out throughout the world to fulfill the great commission given them by the Risen.

In today’s first reading, Peter along with his fellow disciples is speaking to a crowd about the Risen Christ and this is part of the first ever Christian sermon. He said;”God raised this Jesus; of this we are all witnesses. Exalted at the right hand of God, he poured forth the promise of the Holy Spirit that he received from the Father, as you both see and hear” [Acts 2:32-33]. Peter maintained the same pattern as our Lord in His great commission. Thus, the blessed trinity is the core and foundation of our faith; having in mind the incarnation and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In the gospel (Mtt 28:8-15) Jesus appears to the women and tells them to go and get the disciples and to tell them to go to Galilee where He will meet them. Galilee represented their source , normality and everyday life for the disciples and it reminds us that we too will find the Risen Christ in the normality of our lives. What difference does the Resurrection of Jesus make in your daily living? Do you witness with joy convinced of your victory in the Lord or do you for sordid money hide the truth

The twist and turns of life should not make us act like the Roman soldiers, who saw all that happened and yet decided to bury the truth because of money. Remember, that the thirty pieces of silver that Judas Iscariot collected to betray Jesus could not bury the truth that Jesus rose from the grave, so too the Roman soldiers could not bury the truth for now we have a Holy Roman Catholic and Apostolic Church built upon Peter by Christ the living Stone and the Cornerstone rejected by the elders and leaders of the people.

Let us celebrate Christ’s victory over death and sin, a victory that resounded throughout the universe, and continues to do so today. Let us go to Galilee. Let us go back to the source…and we shall see Him there!

Fr Joseph Osho