EASTER SUNDAY YEAR C
“THE RESURRECTION: HOPE OF ALL CHRISTIANS.”
Acts 10:34, 37-43, Ps 118, Col 3:1-4, Jn 20:1-9.
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
1. It is in the normal functioning of life that every laborer hopes for a reward or wage. Teachers, nurses, carpenters, bricklayers, farmers etc. Everyone in every work of life commits himself or herself to working because of the gain that comes at the end of the day. The hope in the resurrection of the dead is the cause of commitment for all Christians. Today is Easter and the joy of this day is because Christ who was crucified has risen from the dead and by that fact conquered death and sin. In the Gospel taken from John, the news of Jesus' rising from the dead caused Peter as old as he was to run without getting tired till he reached the tomb and passed the other disciple straight into the tomb to confirm what he has been told.
2. The sadness of Good Friday due to the crucifixion have been overcome by the reality of the resurrection of Jesus. We as Christians are workers in the farmyard of the Lord. Our everyday struggles are in view of an eternal reward and the channel of this eternal investment is the resurrection of the body. 'I am the resurrection and the life' are the words of Jesus to us. The day of the resurrection is that day which brings joy and celebration during Easter; it is the day that causes salvation history to come to fruition; it's the day that makes Christians to die as martyrs; it is the day that causes people to be called into the priesthood and religious life; it is the day that causes men and women to die as missionaries in foreign countries; it is the day that causes men and women to unite themselves in a permanent union in total service to one another in fidelity and in permanent union in total service to one another till death; it is the day that helps us to see the emptiness of worldly ventures as an end in themselves void of love of God and service to humanity; it is the day that causes the devil and his agents to continuously tremble because they know that their plans have no place before men and women, sons and daughters of God any longer etc.
3. This day was made by the Lord, and we rejoice and are glad! It is the day that brings positive pride and dignity to the life of every believer, we rejoice and are glad. On this day our hearts must be full of Thanksgiving to God. Thanksgiving is a fast means for divine blessings – “For, although you have no need of our praise, yet our thanksgiving is itself your gift, since our praises add nothing to your greatness but profit us for salvation, through Christ our Lord.” (Common Preface IV).
Let us as a community of believers present and make these words of prayer of thanksgiving ours: “Dear Lord Jesus, we thank you for your rising from the dead, your love, your help, and patience for us sinners. You died and have risen to confirm that you are the visible face of the invisible Father and the mercy of the merciful God. You are the comforter and consoler, the lion of Judah, the king of kings, the word made flesh, the hope of the hopeless and the Savior of the world.
Lord, we thank you for our lives, we thank you for our families and friends, we thank you for the faith you have given us, we ask you to increase our faith in you so that we may die and rise one day to be with you forever. Thank you for your patience with us despite our weaknesses and sins. Give us the graces to embrace transformation and conversion like St Paul, Zacchaeus, Mary of Magdala, Francis of Assisi, Augustine of Hippo, and Mathew the tax collector. May our faith in you be like that of Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, and Abraham, our Father in faith. May our lives and sacrifices be as pure as that of Abel, the martyrs, and a testimony to your divine love and peace.” Amen.
4. And may our Easter Sunday and the entire season be a gracious one; may our faith and hope in God be renewed every day as we gather around the Altar of the Holy Sacrifice. Happy Easter to You All! To God be the glory and honor forever and ever. Amen.
Fr. Anthony D. Lawir,
Pastor, St. Agnes and Our Lady of the Snows Parishes, Pittsfield and Dexter.