Easter Sunday Homily (2026)
Easter Sunday, Year A
Acts 10:34a, 37-43
Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23 (24)
Colossians 3:1-4
John 20:1-9
Today we celebrate something very important. Today we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus.
To understand the Resurrection, we need to know what had happened in Judea. Jesus had come and “went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil for God was with him.”
While Jesus had done many good things, He was hung upon a tree, crucified on the Cross.
To understand why He was crucified, we need to take a step much further back in time. We go back to the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth. God created the universe and set his divine order upon.
God created humanity in his image, male and female he created them. Jesus’ Resurrection shows our bodies mean something. God created our male and female bodies to express who He created us to be. God created us to be loved.
We love in different ways. God means for families to be the first place we experience love. (Sadly, this is not always the case). There is married love between a man and a woman. There is love between true friends and love for strangers. Our greatest love should be for God for God is love.
Yet, at times humanity sins, breaking their personal relationship with God. God knew this and it has always been part of his divine plan to save us.
At the appointed time God sent His Son Jesus into the world not to condemn but to save it.
Jesus’ life became at the moment when He was conceived in his mother’s womb. We celebrate his conception on March 25th, nine months before we celebrate his birth on December 25th.
Now, we celebrate his death. Yes, we celebrate his death.
Of course, we are not happy that He is dead. What we celebrate is the Sacrifice He made on the Cross when He freely gave us his life so that our sins might be forgiven.
This might seem difficult to grasp. If the story ended with his Crucifixion and his body being laid in the tomb, it would seem like utter defeat.
Fortunately, the story does not with Jesus’ burial. Mary of Magdala went to the tomb on the third day “while it was still dark.” Remember at the beginning when God began to create the world, everything was in darkness. God brought light to the world.
Following Jesus’ Crucifixion, his disciples find themselves in darkness as they grieve. The darkness keeps them from understanding what has happened.
When she arrived at the tomb, Mary of Magdala found the tomb to be empty. She runs to Peter and the “other disciple whom Jesus loved.” She tells them that someone had taken the body of Jesus from the tomb.
No one had stolen the body of Jesus. There is good news. Jesus Christ is no longer dead for He has risen. Jesus was not defeated in his death because God has power even over death. God raises Jesus to new life.
Do you get what this means?
To know of Jesus’ Crucifixion and Resurrection should be life-changing for us.
If we understand that Jesus willingly sacrificed his life as his supreme act of love, the only proper response is with gratitude, gratitude that leads us to “seek what is above.”
When we understand the eternal life that Jesus has won for us, the only proper response is to let go of “what is on earth” to open ourselves to things in heaven above.
If we get the significance of Jesus’ Crucifixion and Resurrection, the only proper response is to let go of earthly wants. It is time to let go of pride for we do not merit our own salvation. Give the glory to God.
It is time to let go of any greed. With faith in Jesus, we come to realize that material things “fail to satisfy” for God created us not for earthly power and wealth but for love.
We need to let go of our love for earthly things. Do not let your attachment to earthly things determine your whole life. We find true satisfaction in life with God.
We are called to die with Jesus from this world in Baptism so that we may rise with him in eternal life.
God has a place waiting for you in Heaven but it is not a guarantee. To enter Heaven is not easy. As Jesus says, many will try to enter but few will be able to.
To enter Heaven you must let go of all worldly baggage (see Matthew 19:23-30).
Are you willing to let go of money, power, and even your favorite activity to give everything to Jesus?
Jesus died for you. It is time to give your whole life to our Lord.