Homily: Feast of Saint John, Apostle and evangelist, Monday, December 27, 2021

 

“They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter…”

Today is the 25th death anniversary of my paternal grandmother. I remember vividly that day. My papa had always been a calm and composed man, I hardly see him excited or hurried. But exactly 25 years ago this day, I saw my papa run in anxiety.

Early that morning, my grandmother collapsed at home and was unconscious. We had no telephone, no car. There were only three cars in our village and only two families had telephone connection. Papa ran to one family to ask them to drive grandma to the hospital.

The rest of us waited in silence at home. Later in the afternoon, our neighbour who had phone connection, ran to our house and reported, "grandma is no more".

That was the first time I encountered death in the family. I was eight years old. I didn’t understand what death meant. I knew I would not see grandma at home anymore, I felt sad, because papa was sad.

Grandma’s death was certain. But is death final?

In the gospel text, we see another running scene. Jesus had been dead two days. The apostles must have been shocked, shaken and saddened by the cruel crucifixion.

They were probably trying to make sense of all that had happened in the three years they followed Jesus, “what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we looked upon and touched with our hands”. Jesus had also told them about His death and preached about resurrection, but they probably did not fully understand it.

And then Mary Magdalene came reporting about the empty tomb. Could it be happening? That Jesus had said about being raised up on the third day. Could it be true? That death is not final.

Peter ran. The other disciple, possibly John, ran faster. “He saw and believed”.

Death is not final. Jesus overcame it.

Resurrection is real. The Apostles witnessed it.

And so, we will all die, but we will also rise!

This is the purpose of God coming as man, the mission of Jesus being born among us. This is the good news of Christmas, how shall we share it?

Fr. Nivin Scaria