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Easter Sunday Year B - 1/4/2012 - Gospel: Jn 20:1-9
Empty Tomb!
The empty tomb reminded the Apostles what Jesus had foretold about his resurrection.  The Apostles remembered..

"That the Son of man had to be handed over into the power of sinful men and be crucified, and rise again on the third day.  And they remembered his words. "  Luke 24:7

The empty tomb serves as a sign of hope.

"Why look among the dead for someone who is alive? He is not here.  He is risen.  Remember what he told you when he was still in Galilee?" (Luke 24:50)

The empty tomb serves a sign of love.

"He is going before you to Galilee; it is there you will see him, just as he told you."  Mark 16:7

The empty tomb serves as a sign of service through the breaking of the bread, the Eucharist.  On the way to Emmaus...

"...Jesus was with them at table, he took the bread and said the blessing; then he broke it and handed it to hem.  And their eyes were opened and they recognized him; but he had vanished from their sight.  Then they said to each other:  Did not our hearts burn within us as he talked to us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?"  Luke 24:32

The Apostles understood the message which transformed them to become new persons.  It is the newness of life in Christ.  Everything is new, everything is fresh and everything is made whole in Christ.  We are called to renew our own baptismal promises at Easter because…

it reminds us of the Resurrection of Christ and it serves to make us new in Him.
 

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