Community Word: Jesus Christ, the Living Hope, leads us to eternal life.
Theme: We have hope for eternal life when we rejoice and testify to Christ’s resurrection.
Promise: “When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory.” (Col 3:4)
Reflection:
Our theme for Easter Sunday tells us – We have hope for eternal life when we rejoice and testify to Christ’s resurrection. Indeed, as Christians we have to keep in mind the very reason why we celebrate Easter. This is the most important event for all believers and followers of Jesus Christ, who died on the cross and rose from the grave to save us from the damnation of sin. We ought to rejoice and proclaim the significance of Christ’s resurrection. As St. Paul says, “If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain,” (1Cor 15:14). Easter is the day foretold by Jesus that He will rise again from the dead, proving that He is the Son of Man and the Son of God. Death was conquered. The truth of Jesus’ divinity is confirmed by His resurrection (CCC 653).
The Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ is proof and reminder that evil was overcome by God’s infinite power and greatest love for man. “God the Father, who in His great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope by Jesus’ Resurrection,” (1 Pet 1:3). We testify to this truth as we have the mission and responsibility to communicate this joyfully and share the hope of Christ to others who are still in darkness.
In response to God’s grace, we, as Easter people, should become a channel of new life for others. As we join our own sacrifices with those of Christ, we also died with Christ and rose with Him. Easter becomes our way of life, a life lived in the Risen Savior in our Church and community, through which He continues His redemptive mission. Jesus is raised from death each time we live as He lived. Thus, we testify to Christ every time we are compassionate, when we fight for justice, when we promote reconciliation and peace, when we live our faith and encourage others to be people of hope.
In this age, there is an increasing number of people who are anxious about dying and those who believe that nothing lies beyond the grave. These are the people we need to bear witness to in the hope of resurrection, by word and action, giving them comfort in their anxieties and letting them understand the truth about the chaotic world and seeming hopelessness of living and dying. We can be instruments of peace and reconciliation where there is division and disunity. Our testimonies can become bridges from their sense of defeat to success, from their despair to hope, and from their sadness to joy. Jesus brought salvation to the world, and by virtue of our baptism, we are called to bring His gospel and testify to those who are still in darkness and sin, those who have not yet found their faith in one true God.
Jesus invites us to a new life and we respond by opening our hearts to the mystery of His resurrection. Jesus tells us that He is the Life and the Resurrection and anyone who believes in Him will live even if he dies. Through the merits that Christ won for us by His death and resurrection, we have gained access to eternity in heaven where we may share in the glory of God. In the Apostles Creed prayer, our faith tells us to believe in the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Our Catechism reminds us: The Paschal mystery has two aspects: by His death, Christ liberates us from sin; by His Resurrection, He opens for us the way to a new life…justification that reinstates us in God’s grace, (CCC 654).
We rejoice in the resurrection of Jesus Christ because He is truly the way, the truth and the life. In our faith journey, we will never lose hope that the day will come when we will live the joy of eternity. As we live in Christ on earth, we will also live His glory in heaven – “When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with Him in glory,” (Col 3:4).
Today, let us celebrate and rejoice that Christ is risen and He lives forever! Let us give thanks to God for His goodness, for all the blessings He has given us and for the promise of eternal life.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your loving plan of salvation through Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, paving the way for us to live a new life in Christ. As we celebrate Easter, continue to empower us and renew our soul and spirit that we may live the life that Jesus taught us. Give us strength and confidence to testify to others for all that You have done because of Your great love for us. Thank you for the hope of eternal life that we gained by Your gift of salvation in Jesus. May we live our faith believing that Jesus is our life and resurrection. Amen.
A blessed Easter to all!
Reflection Questions:
- What is the meaning of Christ’s resurrection to you? Reflect on a “resurrection” event that you may have experienced in your life.
- Do you believe in your resurrection on the last day? What steps should you take to affirm such a belief?
This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
April 09, 2023 (Sun) – Acts 10:34, 37-43/ Ps 118:1-2, 16, 17, 22, 23/ Col 3:1-4/ Jn 20:1-9
April 10, 2023 (Mon) – Acts 2:14, 22-33/ Ps16:1, 2, 5, 7-11/ Mt 28:8-15
April 11, 2023 (Tues) – Acts 2:36-41/ Ps 33:4, 5, 18-20, 22/ Jn 20:11-18
April 12, 2023 (Wed) – Acts 3:1-10/ Ps 105:1-4, 7-9/ Lk 24:13-35
April 13, 2023 (Thurs) – Acts 3:11-26/ Ps 8:2, 5-9/ Lk 24:35-48
April 14, 2023 (Fri) – Acts 4:1-12/ Ps 118:1, 2, 4, 22-27/ Jn21:1-14
April 15, 2023 (Sat) – Acts 4:13-21/ Ps 118:1, 14-21/ Mk 16:9-15
“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. Read your Bible daily!”
