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●●●● _Seeing
the Big Picture in the Easter Gospel (Luke 24:1–12)_
_01.
Big Picture Thinking and the Disciples_
We
don’t always naturally see the big picture. Our minds are trained to filter and
prioritize only the most immediate and relevant information. It’s a survival
skill, really—there’s simply too much information coming at us at any one time
to take it all in. This is why things like caller ID are helpful—we can decide
in advance which calls are worth taking and which can wait.
So
it’s not always a bad thing to focus on what seems most immediate. But this
limited perspective can cause us to miss something greater, something deeper.
This is precisely what happened to Jesus’ disciples time and time again.
Take
the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves, for example—something we
reflected on this past Holy Thursday. Over five thousand people were fed, and
the disciples were amazed. It was a logistical miracle: everyone was satisfied,
and it cost them nothing. But that wasn’t the whole story. The deeper truth—the
big picture—is that Jesus was pointing toward something even more profound: His
ongoing, multiplied presence among us in the Blessed Sacrament. God was not
just providing bread for the day; He was foreshadowing the eternal nourishment
of the Eucharist. God is in the details, but we often settle for what’s on the
surface.
_02.
The Empty Tomb: Unsatisfying or Astonishing?_
So
now we come to the Easter Gospel. The disciples come to the tomb and find it
empty. But instead of immediately rejoicing, they are confused, puzzled—even
unsettled. Where is Jesus? Why is His body gone?
Luke
tells us:
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“They found the stone rolled away from the tomb; but when they entered, they
did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were puzzling over this,
behold, two men in dazzling garments appeared to them. They were terrified and
bowed their faces to the ground. They said, ‘Why do you seek the living one
among the dead? He is not here, but he has been raised. Remember what he said
to you while he was still in Galilee…’” (Luke 24:2–7)
The
angelic message is clear: They are looking in the wrong place. Jesus has risen,
just as He promised.
_03.
Covenant, Sacrifice, and a Different Kind of Victim_
On
Holy Thursday and at every Mass, we remember that Jesus willingly gave Himself
up. He wasn’t taken by surprise. He is the Lamb of God, silent before His
accusers, as the prophet Isaiah described. But unlike most victims, Jesus
chooses to suffer. He transforms victimhood into an act of supreme love.
His
“victory” is not political or military. He doesn’t defeat Rome with an army or
overthrow hate with more hate. He defeats death by embracing it and redeeming
it through love. That’s how God’s kingdom works.
_04.
Discipleship and Witnessing_
Not
everyone follows Him, even after the Resurrection. And as disciples, we’re not
asked to convince everyone either. Our role is to testify, to witness, to share
God’s love—and to trust that seeds planted in love will bear fruit in God’s
time.
Sometimes
we ourselves are in the dark. I’ve been there—spiritually lost or unaware of
what God truly wants from me. And sometimes, only through God’s grace, through
the support of friends, neighbors, or even strangers, we can step into the
light. No one can force us. We all have a right to be wrong.
The
same applies to those we struggle with or try to help. Yes, we should fast and
pray for them. But ultimately, they too have the freedom to choose, just like
us. As the Divine Mercy prayer reminds us: *“Jesus, I trust in you… for the
sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.”*
_05.
A Modern Parable: The Thai Cave Rescue_
In
July 2018, a group of 12 boys and their soccer coach went exploring in a cave
in Thailand. Unexpected flooding trapped them deep underground. For days, no
one even knew where they were. But hope was sparked when rescuers found their
bicycles parked outside the cave.
What
followed was an extraordinary, international rescue effort. It took over two
weeks of intense planning and execution—expert divers, Navy SEALs, and doctors
all worked together to bring each boy and the coach out, one by one. They
couldn’t rescue them as a group; each child had to be carried through the darkness
individually.
This
story mirrors the Easter message in a powerful way: from death to life, from
darkness to light, from fear to hope. And like the boys in that cave, none of
us can make the journey on our own. We need rescue. We need grace.
_06.
Vulnerability and New Life_
The
boys were vulnerable—not only to physical harm but to fear, anxiety, and
despair. But their coach kept teaching them underground. He reminded them to
meditate, to pray, and to trust. He helped them hold on until help arrived.
This
is the Easter movement: out of darkness, into light. From fear to faith. From
being trapped to being set free.
_07.
The Resurrection: Gone, Yet Present_
At
the empty tomb, the disciples are reminded that Jesus is not gone in the way
they thought. Yes, His body is no longer in the tomb—but He is alive. He is
risen. He is still with them.
Their
initial desire was to honor His dead body. But Jesus had already become the
Savior. He no longer needed saving—He was doing the saving. His Resurrection
gives us hope, especially in the face of death. At a funeral Mass, we proclaim
this truth: death is not the end. It is a passage to eternal life.
_08.
The Big Picture of Mercy_
Every
action of Jesus—healing, feeding, teaching—was a signpost toward the greatest miracle
of all: mercy. Forgiveness is not just a cancellation of debt; it is a call to
transformation.
In
confession, we don’t just unload guilt—we step into new life. We reject the
things that drag us down and choose what gives us real life. We stop “seeking
the living among the dead.” That’s the Easter call.
Jesus
wants us to find Him not in the tombs of regret or shallow pleasures, but in
life-giving relationships, true prayer, and service to others. He invites us to
love not only those who love us, but even those who cause us difficulty.
He
gives us nourishment not only in bread, but in His risen Body. He offers us not
just comfort, but a new life and a new relationship. He has not left us alone.
As
the angel said: *“Remember what He told you… that the Son of Man must be handed
over, be crucified, and rise on the third day.”*
Alleluia!
He is Risen.
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