A: Easter Sunday (16 Apr 2017) - WE REMEMBER - Jn 20:1-9

Our gospel today on Resurrection Sunday presents the episode of the Empty Tomb, known as the very pillar of our Christian Faith. With it we believe that Jesus is indeed Lord who rose from the darkness of the tomb toward the brightness of a new tomorrow.

Interesting in this short pericope of 9 verses in this Gospel according to John (20:1-9) is the word “tomb” which appears 9 times. This only points to its importance in the narrative. In Greek, the word used for this is “mnemeion” which literally means “tomb” or “remembrance.” Mnemonic is its clear cognate in the English language that directs us to the idea of “not forgetting” or “keeping always the memory alive.”

This concept is corroborated by tombs in the Ancient and Greco-Roman Periods. A deceased is buried in the tomb of “his father,” which is an underground cavity with several compartments inside. Prominent in this complex is a stone slab occupied by the father of the family/clan. Adjacent to him are the remains of his family and descendants. This is the reason why for example Jacob would like to be buried back to Canaan to be reunited with his ancestor Abraham (Gen 49:29).

Jesus’ burial in “a tomb not used by anyone” (Jn 19:41) tells us that he is now the head of our generation, our faith and our pride. With his death we die, and with his resurrection we live (cf. Rom 6:4-5). Furthermore, it makes us realize that in the death of anyone—be they acquainted to us or not—we creatures on earth are one with them in spirit, and subsequently enjoining their “mnemeion,” their memorial. Yet with Christ’s resurrection, the door of this “mnemeion” has been opened… telling all of us that the memory should be proclaimed until a just cause is achieved.

This suits well with the Cain and Abel story. After his infamous murder of his brother, Cain was confronted by God. He tried to hide his crime but there was a prima facie witness to the murder asking God’s just intervention: “the voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground (Gen 4:11).” The ground was unsealed and so was the blood that was poured unto it. They were in the open and they were reminding God and Cain of what was done against poor Abel. Noteworthy here is the Hebrew word for Abel, i.e. “hevel,” which literally means “vanity, futility, breath” (cf. Eccl 1:2). This jibes well with the Genesis Account for his memory is easily forgotten (mentioned thereafter only in Gen 4:25)… just like a passing breath or wind.

Ten months have passed since the new administration radically changed the face of Philippine politics. Set aside first the improvements in good governance, peace and order, social services, economic stability if there are any. The cold hard fact is thousands are dead—be they 8,000, or 4,000, or 2,000, it does not matter. The important thing is their “mnemeion” should never be forgotten and disregarded. Indeed, our Christian faith teaches us to forgive, but it doesn’t say that their unjust deaths should simply turn futile like a passing Abel. With Jesus’ resurrection, all of us are called to fight for their memory, for the stone that blocks the dark tomb of fear has already been laid open. We are then the walking witnesses of this resurrection of courage.

Happy Easter to all! And to all extra-judicial killing victims, widows and orphans… we remember.

- Rex Fortes, CM