The Resurrection of the Lord
Easter Sunday
1st Reading - Acts 10:34a, 37-43
2nd Reading - Colossians 3: 1-4
Gospel - John 20: 1-9
He is risen! Let us rejoice & be glad!
I sometimes wonder what life would be like if Easter had not occurred?
The darkness and hopelessness are hard to imagine. So much rests on this event. The promise of hope, forgiveness, and second chances would be gone. I can only ponder this for a moment before quickly returning to what is, where my joy and relief abide.
The last three words in today’s first reading, “through his name” have powerful meaning. There are many phrases that could be placed before or after those words. Through His name we are saved. Through His name we are healed. Through His name we are spared. Through His name we are lifted, and so on.
In today’s second reading Paul encourages the reader to “think of what is above, not of what is on earth.” Easy to say but not so easy to do when we are so pressured by earthly demands and expectations.
Lastly, John’s Gospel throws open the doors to salvation. Not a long passage but enough to change the world forever, the last verse especially, “For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead.” Yes, Jesus had risen from the dead thereby securing salvation for all who believe in Him.
In 1986 I was in a car accident. I drove off the NY State Thruway into the trees and brush going at significant speed. It was April and spring had just begun to bloom. The state trooper who arrived at the scene said that if it had been a few weeks later in the season the density of trees would have killed me instantly.
As my body braced and my squinting eyes watched the trees flash by, all I could say was Jesus, Jesus, Jesus over and over again.
I believe that through His name I was saved from serious injury or death.
Jesus rose on Easter Sunday so that we could rise above this world in all ways. Rise from abuse. Rise from addiction. Rise from poverty. Rise from ignorance and fear. Rise from injury and death, and all that this world might throw at us.
On this glorious day let us take a few moments to thank God for all the rising we have done in our lives through the name of Jesus and His Resurrection. Hallelujah!
Peggy Roach, Associate
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