"His Resurrection is Our Hope"

Today's Mass Readings

In today’s reading from the Gospel of John, Jesus again reveals Himself to His disciples. He has been raised from the dead, and He continually appears to His disciples in His resurrected body. Jesus’ resurrection is the message Peter preaches to religious leaders of his day, in today’s first reading from the Acts of the Apostles. Jesus’ resurrection is the message of Easter. Christ has been raised from the dead, alleluia, alleluia. Peter is being persecuted for his faith in Jesus. We too may find it difficult to live out our faith in Christ. We may not have to go to prison for Christ, although some Christians in the world are imprisoned for precisely this, but there are many other ways in which we might find it difficult to follow Christ.

The lesson of today’s readings is this – that the resurrection of Jesus is meant to give us the courage we need to follow Christ faithfully. It is our hope that we too will share in the resurrection that gives us that courage. Just like Jesus who suffered death on a cross, but was raised to new life, we too will share in that resurrection. Lent taught us to hope in the resurrection. The Easter joy of the resurrection teaches us to hope in God’s power present in our lives.

Peter and John faced the challenges that people of their time presented to them with courage. Our times present our own challenges. Secularism is one of the main challenges. To see the risen Lord in every event our our life and bearing witness to him through it is a challenge. Like Peter and John, let us strive actively to live out our faith in Christ.

Let this Easter season lead us to draw closer to God, and transform the world around us courage and hope. Let the Easter joy spread throught the world in and through us.