Sunday 12th
April 2020. Read Acts 10:34-43, Psalm 118, Colossians 3:1-4 and John 20:1-9.
_“And he
commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that he is the one
ordained by God to be the judge of the living and the dead.” *(Acts 10:42)*_
Dear
friends, as soon as Jesus rose from the dead, he immediately gave instructions
to Mary Magdalene that the news of his resurrection should be spread to others.
“Do not hold me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my
brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my
God and your God.” (John 20:17).
Indeed,
our Easter celebration would not be complete if we do not proclaim to the world
what we have seen and heard. This is exactly what Mary Magdalene did in our
Gospel passage today. She became an apostle to the apostles. This is exactly
what we see Peter doing in today’s first reading. In fact, Peter was still
speaking when the Holy Spirit descended upon all who were listening. (Cf. Acts
10:44-46)
Do you
consider the resurrection of Christ as Good News? Then, do not keep it to
yourself, do not assume everyone already knows. Do not keep silent. We may ask,
“What is the loudest way to proclaim that Christ has risen from the dead?” It is
by letting our actions speak of the light that Christ shines in our world today.
The choices we make, the way we relate with others, the kind of words we use,
our dressing, our sincerity, our willingness to help and forgive and so on goes
to show whether we have risen with Christ Jesus.
St. Paul
admonishes in our second reading: “If you have been raised with Christ, set
your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”
(Colossians 3:1-2). St. Paul goes on to mention how must set our minds on
things that are above: “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you:
fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is
idolatry…. In these, you once walked, when you lived in them. But now put them
all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and foul talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you
have put off the old nature with its practices and have put on the new nature,
which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.”
(Colossians 3:5-10).
In a
recent encyclical letter, Christus Vivit, Pope Francis addressing the youths
and the Church, in general, said: “Dear friends, I ask you today, do you really
believe that Jesus is alive? Then let your very life proclaim your answer.” You
will notice that the way you speak of someone when he or she right there with
you in the room is always different from the way you speak about the person
when he or she is not there. When we continue living in sin, we betray Jesus,
we behave as though Jesus is still in the grave.
As you go
about your daily activities from today, have a Jesus-is-alive consciousness.
Remind yourself constantly of His presence within and around you, put away the
works of darkness, take your minds from earthly pursuits and seek the things
that are above. Let your life proclaim that Jesus is Alive.
Finally, the
fact that this year we couldn’t gather as usual in our Church leaves us already
with a feeling of dryness and emptiness about Easter but even in our homes, we
are called to let our good actions fill up this dryness. Let us show love to
everyone we meet today even if it is through a telephone call or an online
message. Call someone you are not in talking terms with and offer your
forgiveness. Find something to send a gift to today.
Let us pray: Lord Jesus, may I rise just like you from death and use me to spread the
Good News. Amen.
Happy
Sunday. Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless
you. (Easter Sunday. Bible Study: Acts 10:34-43, Psalm 118, Colossians 3:1-4 and
John 20:1-9).
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