Please read the Scripture passage before the homily.)
What are some of the ramifications of Christ’s rising from the dead? St Paul calls Christ the firstborn of the dead. Being the firstborn does not make Christ the only one who has risen from the dead. Who else gets to rise from the dead? All the others who believe in Christ.
I presume that you belong to that group of all the others. On the other hand, if you belong to that group, then others must also belong to that group. If you would add your deceased parents to that group, I would understand that because good parents raise good kids. If you would add your parents to that list, would you exclude the mother of Jesus from that group?
The resurrection from the dead includes the resurrection of the body. Jesus’ whole body rose from the dead, and we have risen with him in baptism (See Romans 6:4-11; Colossians, 2:12-14). When Christ conquers death for us (by bringing us fully into his resurrection), we shall live fully with our bodies resurrected. Since I presume that you belong to the group who believe in Christ, I presume that you will have your bodies resurrected on that last day. If that is the case with you and yours, then it must also be the case for the mother of Jesus.
That last day, however, has two meanings. It could mean the personal las day of each or the actual last day of the universe. It does not matter, since for God the personal last day of each of us is the same as the las day of all, for in God a thousand years are as one day and one day is like a thousands years (Cf. ).
Many Christians believe that Mary, the Mother of Jesus already shares in the bodily resurrection of Jesus. These same Christians do not deny that all who have died in Christ may already share fully in the bodily resurrection of Jesus, but they do believe that, if they do not yet, they will ultimately share fully in the resurrection of the body. If the Mother of Jesus already has experienced the resurrection of the body, then she has experienced what we hope to experience on that last day of ours or on the last day of the word, the resurrection of the body.