“I shall not die, but live...”
Reflections on the readings for The Resurrection of the Lord—The Mass of Easter Day (April 21, 2019): ACTS 10:34,37-43; PS 116:1-2,16-17,22-23; COL 3:1-4; JN 20:1-9
MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days
If it is easy to think about suffering and death on Good Friday, it must be even more appropriate to ponder the joy of eternal life on Easter.
Jesus came to show us the way through the life we know, with its everyday hardship and frustration, to a new life of light and hope. If we actually believe in the mercy and salvation of our Lord, we must spend our days in reflecting His promise. “If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. For you have died, and your life in hidden with Christ in God. When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with Him in glory” (Colossians 3:1-4). A Christian life – a Catholic life – is meant to be transforming. We believe in the Kingdom of Heaven not as a distant place beyond time that we cannot really grasp. Jesus calls us to understand that the Kingdom is at hand and that we are part of it.
So whatever crosses we have to bear in our lives, we are not alone. Christ is with us now and always, loving us and caring about us every second of every day. It is up to us to respond with loyalty, gratitude, and service to our Lord and to treat His children as our own sisters and brothers in Him. Alleluia!
Suggested missionary action: Let us ask our Lord to help us do our best to always rejoice in His glory and to keep the great hope of this Holy day with us throughout the year. And let us share our faith wherever we go through our prayers, our words and our generous actions.
