Dr. Jayant Patel, an Indo-American, was dubbed ‘doctor of death’ because he faced charges of manslaughter in USA and Australia. He lied about his medical qualification causing innumerable deaths. Similarly Dr. Amit Kumar performed illegal kidney operations of poor unsuspecting victims and sold their kidneys to rich recipients. History abounds with such ‘doctors of death’ besides leaders like Hitler was called the ‘butcher of the Balkans’ Besides these killers, we too consciously or unconsciously promote death rather than life. We have become agents of abortion, euthanasia or mercy killing and murder conversely. Easter exhorts everyone to celebrate the Lord of Life and defy death.
We celebrate the Lord of Life during Easter. Three L’s-Light, Life, Love are symbolized by the Easter candle, waters of baptism and empty tomb.
Light and Easter Candle: The Easter Vigil begins with the ‘service of light’. Good Friday hardly seems ‘good’ since evil overpowers good and death triumphs over life. The world appears draped in darkness. But God dispels the darkness of death and raises Jesus as the ‘Light of the world’. Jesus reminded us ‘You are the light of the world!’ (Mt 5:14) Are we truly agents of light who dispels the darkness around us?
Life and Baptismal Water: The symbol of water comes alive at Easter with ‘the Spirit of God moves over the face of the waters’ (Gen 1:2), ‘With joy you’ll draw water from the wells of salvation’ (Is 12:3) and ‘I will sprinkle clean water upon you and you shall be clean from all your uncleanness’ (Ezek 36:25) We are reminded of our own baptism. Can we resolve anew to resolve sins so that we become apostles of life.
Love and Empty Tomb: Jesus leaves humankind with only one historical proof of his resurrection, namely the empty tomb. Easter tells us that true love does no terminate in tombs but flourish in the world’s ‘wombs where people breathe hope to recreate a new humanity, the emptiness of Jesus tomb proves the fullness of Jesus’ love. When you left the womb, you were crying and everyone around you were smiling. Easter exhorts you in such a way that you are approaching the tomb, you may be smiling and everyone around you crying. Will we able to smile while we approach death?