Rejoice and be Glad for You have Risen from the Grave.

Sunday 17th April 2022. Read Acts 10:34,37-43, Ps. 118:1-2,16-17,22-23, Colossians 3:1-4, John 20:1-9

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” (Colossians 3:1-2)

Today is a day for pure joy! Today is a day that even the Angels and the millions of Saints in heaven will not rest for joy for behold Christ has defeated the power of death. By dying, Christ has destroyed death forever. Christ by rising has shown us that in the end, darkness can never overpower light, that in the end, God has the final say.

When the devil thought he had succeeded in making people laugh and mock Jesus, he did not know that that which was an object of laughter would in the end become an object of glory? The joy of this day is a joy that not only accounts for, but even doubles for the sorrow we felt in our hearts on Good Friday.

The joy of Easter is the joy of rising with Christ; rising from sin and letting go of previous bad habits and vices. This is the real joy of Easter; the joy of becoming completely new people; the joy of

knowing that in the course of the last 40days, I have been able to drop my vices and I have picked up new virtues. My true joy is that I will no longer return to the life I used to live before lent began this year.

Of course, If I have not been taking my Lenten observances seriously, then poor me! If I have not been able to use the period of grace and the three keys of lent; prayer, fasting, and abstinence as well as almsgiving to my greatest advantage, if I have not been faithful to the Stations of the Cross and mediating on every line in it, if, in the last 40 days, I have only increased in my sinful habits and grown worse, then I am most to be pitied.

St. Paul describes perfectly the whole essence of this Easter joy when he stated: “So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory,” (Colossians 3:1-4). The joy of Easter is:

ü  that we are no longer earthly-minded; struggling for space with Barabbas who became popular for evil;

ü  that we are not trying to make money like Judas Iscariot who sold his master for 30 silver coins;

ü  that we are not ashamed of defending our faith even before a small child, unlike Peter who was so scared for his life. (However, as we saw in today’s first reading, after the resurrection, Peter fearlessly preached the Gospel);

ü  that we are going to tell lies anymore like the Chief Priests who knew very well that Jesus was innocent but wanted him dead out of jealousy;

ü  that we are not going to be power-conscious like Pilate who for fear of losing favor with Caesar asked that Jesus be crucified;

ü  that we are not going to base our faith on signs and wonders like the people who wanted Jesus to jump down from the cross so that they would believe;

ü  that we are no longer going to go about with grudges in our hearts but instead forgive like Jesus did on the cross when he said: “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”

This is why we should celebrate Easter. Yes, rejoice and be glad for you have risen from the grave!

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, may my Easter joy not be limited to just food and drink but based on my new life in you henceforth. Give me the power to rise from the grave of sin and compulsion to bad habits. Help me to fix my mind on the things that are above and no longer or those below. Amen. 

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. (Easter Sunday. Bible Study: Acts 10:34,37-43, Ps. 118:1-2,16-17,22-23, Colossians 3:1-4, John 20:1-9)

© Rev. Fr. Evaristus Abu