The Hope of Resurrection and a New Beginning
Today we gather on Easter morning not just to remember a past event, but to encounter the risen Christ who is alive even now. This day is when God’s love overcame death and brought true life. As the Psalm says, “On this day the Lord has acted; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24). Through the story of the resurrection, we hope to see our lives in a new light. May we discover the hope and peace we need today through the Word of the Lord.
The Gospel of John tells us that Mary Magdalene went to the tomb “while it was still dark” (John 20:1). This phrase refers not just to the time of day, but also to the inner darkness Mary felt and the suffering of the world. Her beloved teacher had died a painful death on the cross. All hope seemed lost. We, too, have moments like this in life. Sometimes we may look alive on the outside, but feel as if everything inside us is fading away. When our dreams collapse, when relationships fall apart, or when we lose our health or someone we love, we find ourselves walking toward the tomb, just like Mary, surrounded by darkness.
But resurrection does not begin with perfect faith. It begins in loss, in tears, and in confusion. As the Psalm says, “The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation” (Psalm 118:14). This is a song of faith sung in the heart of suffering.
When Mary arrived, the tomb was empty. At that moment, it was not a sign of hope for her, but a shock. “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him” (John 20:2), she told Peter and the other disciple as she ran to find them. It felt as though the last thread of hope had also vanished. In times of deep confusion, we struggle even to name our emotions. But sometimes, it is precisely in these moments of the “empty tomb” that a new beginning is born.
Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb and saw it for themselves. But the Gospel says, “For as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead” (John 20:9). We, too, often fail to recognize what God is doing in our lives. Even when we see signs before us, we may not immediately connect them with resurrection.
The turning point in the story comes when Mary is standing outside the tomb, crying. Then Jesus comes near and gently calls her name: “Mary” (John 20:16). In that moment, she realizes that the one standing before her is the Lord. The mystery of the resurrection begins here — in a personal encounter with Christ, who calls each of us by name.
To call someone by name is more than just speaking. It means recognizing that person as unique and valuable, someone meaningful in a relationship. Jesus did not call her “woman,” but called her “Mary.” He saw her not as one among many, but as a cherished individual. This is one of the most important messages of the resurrection.
In our lives, we often judge people by the groups they seem to belong to. We see them not as individuals, but through the lens of where they come from or what they appear to represent. But the risen Jesus called Mary by her own name. He recognized her for who she truly was — not as part of a group, but as a unique and beloved person.
Resurrection is not just an idea or doctrine. It becomes real in a living, personal encounter with Christ. Even in our darkest moments, Jesus comes to us and calls us by name.
Jesus told Mary, “Go to my brothers and say to them” (John 20:17). After she met the risen Lord, Mary ran to the disciples and said, “I have seen the Lord” (John 20:18). Her sorrow turned into hope, her loss into discovery, and death into new life.
It is powerful that the first witness of the resurrection was a woman — someone often overlooked in that society. This reminds us that the kingdom of God is revealed first among the humble and the marginalized. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians chapter 15, “Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures.” He goes on to say that although he once persecuted the church, meeting the risen Christ completely transformed his life.
When we encounter the living Christ, the things within us that seemed beyond hope — our dreams, relationships, sense of purpose — can come back to life. The darkest places in our lives can become holy ground, where resurrection breaks through. And this resurrection power is not only for today, but also the promise of eternal life in Christ.
In Acts 10:34–35, Peter says, “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.” This is one of the greatest fruits of the resurrection: It breaks down all walls that keep people apart and reveals the wide embrace of God’s love for all. The risen Lord is not a conqueror, but a healer — not a ruler by force, but a liberator by love.
At Pentecost, the risen Christ sent the Holy Spirit so this message could reach all nations. Through the Spirit, we are now called to live as witnesses of the resurrection — to participate in God’s vision for a renewed humanity, where love transcends boundaries and every life is honored as part of God’s unfolding grace.
There may be “empty tombs” in our lives — hopes, dreams, or relationships that seem lifeless. But that is not where the story ends. Like Mary, we may begin in the shadows, but we can still discover the light of resurrection.
To live as witnesses of the resurrection means proclaiming new life wherever we are. Like Mary Magdalene, we are called to hear the Lord’s voice and carry his light. And this begins when we see those around us not as categories or labels, but as people with their own names and dignity.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is not just a historical event from 2,000 years ago. It must become real in our lives today. Even when all seems lost, Jesus calls us by name and invites us to begin again.
So today, to those around us and to our own hearts, let us proclaim once again: “I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord” (Psalm 118:17).
Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia! Amen.