CHRIST IS RISEN ! ALLELUIA !
First Reading: Acts 10: 34 and 37-43
Second Reading: Colossians 3: 1-4
Gospel Reading: John 20: 1-9
*First reading is from the Acts of the Apostles. A powerful and convincing testimony by St. Peter regarding the resurrection of Jesus is given. He tells us how he was a witness to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. He firmly affirms that the Risen Lord is the saviour of those who believe in Him as well as He is the judge of the living and of the dead. Everyone who believes in Him will receive forgiveness of sin.
Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Colossians. Paul tells us that through our baptism we share in the risen life of Christ through a hidden and mysterious way. As members of the body of Christ, we share in the victory of Christ and become a new creation in Him.
The empty tomb: The sign of the resurrection of Jesus Today's Gospel reading is from St. John. The circumstances of the resurrection experience of the disciples of Jesus are narrated. Gradually the disciples come to realize that Jesus who was crucified and died is indeed risen from the dead. Early on Sunday morning - after the tragic and painful events on Friday - Mary Magdalene goes to visit the tomb of Jesus. It is still dark and she is surprised and shocked to see that the stone which had covered the tomb is rolled away and the body of Jesus is no more to be found. She is totally disturbed and she runs to St. Peter and other disciples to tell them about the strange happenings. Hearing her story, Peter and John ran to the tomb to see what happened to the body of Jesus. To their amazement they too find that the tomb is indeed empty and the body of Jesus could not be located anywhere. Thus the finding of the empty tomb is the first sign that Jesus is risen from the dead. At first the disciples and others could not really believe that Jesus is indeed risen from the dead as He had told them. But gradually they experience the presence of the risen Lord and come to the firm conviction that Jesus is indeed risen from the dead. After that, the risen Lord appears to several disciples individually or collectively innumerable times and strengthens them in His risen form. To experience the presence of the risen Lord, we too need to go through an empty tomb experience. We need to empty ourselves of our pre-conceived ideas and thoughts: All that hold us away from the risen Lord. Then we too can break the barriers of doubts and experience the presence of the risen Lord.
"The resurrection, then is not a theory but a historical reality revealed by the man Jesus Christ by means of his 'Passover' - his 'passage' that has opened a 'new way' between heaven and earth." - Late Pope Benedict XVI
"The resurrection completes the inauguration of God's Kingdom." - N.T. Wright
"By His resurrection Christ conquered sin and death, destroyed Satan's dark Kingdom, freed the enslaved human race and broke the seal on the greatest mysteries of God and man." - St. Nikolai
MAY THE RISEN LORD BLESS EVERYONE AND STRENGTHEN US TO OVERCOME THE PAINS AND LOSSES OF DEATH.
A VERY HAPPY EASTER!
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