"Resurrection, Justice and Love"

Today's Mass Readings


The first reading for today from the Acts of the Apostles is a powerful reading that challenges our sense of justice. The earliest Christians, as depicted in Acts, sought to live justly and mercifully with one another, so that no one went hungry, so that no one wanted for anything. We know from St. Paul’ s First Letter to the Corinthians, that not all Christians lived this way, and St. Paul rebuked the Corinthians for their behavior. But the ideal portrayed in Acts is a challenge for us. How often we know about people in need and do nothing for them? Lent was a season to prepare us to live lives of service and love to one another. Easter is a season to continue to serve and love each other, as Christ serves and loves us. In this way, Easter is a continuation of living the love learned through Lent.

The reading from the Gospel of John for today is about baptism. Easter and baptism go hand-in-hand, since, when we are baptized, we die with Christ and are then raised to new life with Christ. This new life in Christ through baptism makes us responsible for one another. We are no longer merely separate individuals, but rather through baptism are connected in the one body of Christ. The baptized in Darfur, Sudan, our brothers and sisters in Iraq who believe in Jesus, the suppressed Church in China and each of us are connected to each other through our baptism in the name of the one risen Lord. Let us strive to live out our baptismal faith by serving one another in love, and making sure no one is left wanting or needing for anything. This is a great way to share the Easter joy of Christ’s resurrection with others.