The word “Resurrection” is not a common word that is used in everyday vocabulary, and much less in the secular world.
As a matter of fact, the word “Resurrection” is often used in Church because of its religious meaning, and it is used especially during this particular period of time.
It is often said that the Feast of the Resurrection, or the feast of Easter, is the greatest celebration of our faith.
If that is so, then the reality of the Resurrection must permeate and be seared into our lives, so that the power and the glory of the Resurrection is not just an expression in the Mass and in Church, but the essence and substance of our lives in the world.
So, we know, and we believe, that in the Resurrection, Jesus rose from the dead and conquered sin and death and gave us new life.
That means Jesus has freed us from the bonds and snares of sin, and He raised us to the new life of heaven.
So, the empty tomb is history, as Jesus calls us to share in His glory.
So, we can't keep looking and wondering at the empty tomb, like how the disciples were initially looking and wondering at the empty tomb.
Yes, initially the disciples wondered about the empty tomb, until the encounter with the Risen Christ in the upper room.
We too may wonder about the message of the empty tomb, and we might even be tempted to linger in that empty tomb.
Because the empty tomb distracts us. In that empty tomb we may look for security in earthly riches, and forget our eternity with Jesus.
In that empty tomb, we may want to clutch at our pride and ego, and forget that humility and simplicity is what we really need to let go.
In that empty tomb, we may want to wallow in our disappointments, frustrations, anger and resentment, and forget that Jesus, our Risen Lord, wants to give us peace and joy and contentment.
The empty tomb is history, and has absolutely nothing for us.
Jesus is calling us to look up and head towards that Upper Room.
It is not that Upper Room that the disciples once gathered.
It is that Upper Room in heaven where Jesus has prepared a home for each of us.
So, let us move on from the empty tomb to that Upper Room, where we will sing “Alleluias” forever.