Looking back at Christ's Resurrection...and to our own
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 “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.
As we listen to the liturgical readings for this Easter Sunday, we contemplate the rising of Jesus from the dead.
After the pain, misery and apparent finality of Good Friday, we awake this morning filled with joy as we celebrate the Good News of the Resurrection. Now we must also consider just what the Risen Lord means to us. Because we do not only rejoice in the life of Christ and His triumph over death, but in our victory as well. Because all who truly believe in Him will share His eternal life, too. In the first reading, we hear Peter proclaim the Crucifixion and Resurrection of our Savior. “They put Him to death by hanging Him on a tree. This man God raised on the third day and granted that He be visible, not to all people, but to us, the witnesses chosen by God in advance, who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead. He commissioned us to preach to the people and testify that He is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead” (Acts 10:39-42).
Peter wanted his listeners to grasp that every person of whatever background is welcome to be a follower of Jesus. Now, in this generation it is for us to declare that God lives, that His only begotten Son came to redeem us and claim us for His own. And the Christ who died for us will also one day judge us and bring all who return His love into heaven. Our Lord offers us our own ultimate resurrection if we are willing to open our hearts to Him and seek to journey in His footsteps.
