EASTER SUNDAY HOMILY, JOHN 20 :1-9, APRIL 5, 2026
By Fr. Vincent Corbelli, MM
1. STORY
One day three ten-year-old
children attempted to walk across a river on exposed rocks. While in the middle of the river, the water
suddenly rose and they were trapped and not able to return to shore. They cried for help knowing that their lives
were in danger. The police and firemen immediately responded to their call for
help and rescued the children. Their
parents were overjoyed with their rescue and thankful to the police and fireman
for their bravery and help. The children
first experienced fear and then joy.
2. GOSPEL
A). THE SORROW AT
THE TOMB
With great sorrow
in her heart, Mary of Magdala went to the tomb early on Sunday morning. She was shocked to find the tomb empty and at
a loss to where the body could be. She
immediately informed Peter and the beloved disciple, and they came running to
the tomb. After looking in the empty
tomb, Peter too was puzzled as to what happened to Jesus’ body. They were deeply saddened.
B) THE
BELOVED DISCIPLE SAW AND BELIEVED
When the beloved
disciple saw the burial cloth there and the head cloth rolled up in a separate
place, he knew that the body had not been stolen. He knew and believed that Jesus had been risen
from the dead as he had said so often. He
was the first believer in the resurrection of Christ from the dead. He believed that Jesus was alive. His heart was full of joy.
3. APPLICATION TO
LIFE
A) MANY DO NOT
BELIEVE IN THE RESURRECTION
Today many scoff
at the idea there is life after death. Many
do not believe that Jesus rose from the dead. They believe that at death our life comes to
an end. There is nothing that follows. It is wishful thinking based on ignorance or
superstition to think there is an afterlife.
B) WE MUST
BELIEVE IN THE RESURRECTION
WE BELIEVE THAT
Jesus rose from the dead. We believe
that we, who are his disciples, will also rise to a life of eternal happiness
with him. This belief makes it possible
for us to live a life of joy, peace, and happiness while on earth. Easter is for us a day of celebration knowing
that Jesus has given us the gift of eternal life. Our hearts are full of joy.
4. CONCLUSION
Just as the three
children were full of joy having been rescued from the middle of the river, so
were the disciples full of joy knowing that Jesus truly was alive; he truly
went from death to life. We are full of
Easter joy knowing that Jesus is alive, and we share in his eternal life. We believe that death is just a change and not
the end of life. Because Jesus has been
raised, we will rise from the dead to live a life of eternal happiness.
