Reflection on Easter Sunday Year A, 2006

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My dear fathers, brothers, and sisters in Jesus Christ,

The Lord is truly risen! Alleluia! Alleluia!

If you are truly happy today, can you express the joy that is within you by wishing the person next to you a very Happy Easter?

Yes, my dear brothers and sisters, today is truly a joyful day. We have so many reasons to rejoice. The Lord is risen!

Yesterday, I read the letter of the Archbishop, and it mentioned that during the Easter Vigil alone, nearly 2,000 people received Baptism. The Catholic Church is growing, and that is indeed wonderful news for all of us.

Above all, we believe that the Lord is truly risen from the dead. As St. Paul rightly says, “If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, and your faith is in vain.” But today we proclaim with confidence and joy: Christ is risen indeed!

As I looked at the beautiful flowers decorating the altar today, I was inspired to reflect on gardens in the Bible. The theme I would like to share with you today is this: “Run to meet the Risen Christ in the garden.”

Throughout salvation history, gardens have been places where God meets His people.

First, we remember the Garden of Eden. God walked with Adam and Eve there. They lacked nothing. They lived in perfect harmony with God and with creation. It was a place of joy, peace, and intimacy with God. But because of sin, humanity lost that garden and was driven out.

Then we encounter another garden — the Garden of Gethsemane. There Jesus prayed in deep sorrow: “Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. Yet not my will, but yours be done.” It was a garden of suffering, obedience, and surrender.

And today, in the Gospel, we hear of yet another garden — the garden near the empty tomb. Early in the morning, Mary Magdalene came searching for Jesus. But the tomb was empty. Jesus was no longer there.

My dear friends, we do not believe in a God who remains in the tomb. We believe in a God who is alive — a God who walks with His people even today, just as He walked in the Garden of Eden.

Mary Magdalene encounters Jesus, but at first she mistakes Him for the gardener. She asks Him, “Sir, if you have taken Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him.”

Why did she think He was the gardener? Because Jesus was standing in the garden.

And today I ask you: what is the name of that garden where we encounter the Risen Lord?

I believe the name of that garden is the Catholic Community of St. Francis Xavier.

Yes, this community is the garden where we are called to meet the Risen Christ.

But very often, we search for Christ in the wrong places. Like Mary Magdalene, we look for Him among the dead, in empty tombs, in worldly distractions, in temporary pleasures. But the Risen Lord is alive, and He is waiting for us here — in the community of faith, in the Eucharist, in prayer, and in one another.

After my ordination, I was sent to Assam in northeast India. Everything there was new to me — the language, the culture, the people. At times, I felt lonely and discouraged. One day, another priest and I went out for a walk and came upon a beautiful garden. The beauty of the flowers, the fragrance in the air, and the peaceful atmosphere brought us great consolation and joy.

A garden has the power to refresh the mind and heal the heart. When we see beautiful flowers, they bring joy to our eyes and peace to our souls.

That is exactly what the Church should be — a garden where people encounter Christ and receive hope, peace, and joy.

Today this church is full, and it makes us happy. But imagine how joyful the Risen Lord would be if we came together like this every Sunday — not only on Easter, but every week. I believe the Lord would be even happier than Father Xavier and Father Binoy!

My dear brothers and sisters, let us continue to meet the Risen Christ in the garden of the Catholic Community of St. Francis Xavier. If we remain faithful to this community throughout the coming year, that will be one of the greatest gifts we can offer to the Risen Lord.

And I promise you — not only in my name, but in the name of the Risen Christ — that the joy you experience in your life will be multiplied.

May we walk together in this garden of faith and receive abundant blessings and graces in our lives.

Once again, I wish you all a very Happy Easter. May the Risen Lord fill your hearts, your families, and our community with peace, joy, and hope.

May the Risen Lord bless us all.

Amen.

 

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