HOMILY OF THE EASTER SUNDAY (EASTER) — YEAR A
HOMILY THEME: DO NOT STAY AT THE TOMB!
BY: Fr. Anthony O. Ezeaputa, MA
Acts 10:34,37-43, Col 3:1-4, Jn 20:1-9
In our Gospel reading (John 20:1–9), Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early in the morning—while it was still dark. She was not expecting a miracle and was still grieving. But she noticed the stone was rolled away and ran to tell Peter and John. They came, they saw, and slowly, they began to believe. The Resurrection began in confusion and darkness. But it did not end there.
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This is not just their story—it is our story. There are moments in our lives when things feel uncertain: when relationships are broken, when prayers seem unanswered, and when the future feels unclear. Like Mary Magdalene, we may come with sorrow, or like the disciples, we may struggle to understand what God is doing. But the message of Easter is this: God is already at work—even when we do not see it. What looks like an ending may actually be a beginning.
The empty tomb is not just a sign—it is a victory. It tells us that Jesus is alive, that death has been defeated, and that sin no longer has power over us. The tomb is empty because Christ is risen, and everything has changed. As St. Paul reminds us, we are called to seek what is above because we now share in the life of the risen Christ (Colossians 3:1–4).
Easter is not just about what happened to Jesus. It is about what happens to us. Therefore, the question is not simply, “Do you believe that Christ is risen?” The more profound question is: Are you living like someone who believes it? Are you still holding on to old sins? Are you still living in fear? Are you still stuck in the past? Easter is an invitation to begin again, to let go, and to trust God more deeply. Because the Resurrection is not just an event—it is a way of life.
Mary Magdalene did not stay at the tomb. Peter and John did not stay at the tomb. And neither should we. Do not stay in your darkness, fear, and past. If you are worried and feel lost, come to Christ. The same power that raised Him from the dead is alive—and working—in your life.
Remember who we are. We are not the people of the tomb or darkness. We are the people of the Resurrection. Our story is not despair—it is hope. Our future is not death—it is life. Our song is not silence—it is Alleluia. Christ is risen! He is truly risen, Alleluia! Rise today—and every day—to the new life Christ has given you. Amen. Happy Easter!
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