EASTER MEANS JESUS IS WITH US

BASED ON THE  READINGS – ACTS OF THE APSOTELS 3: 1-10 AND LUKE 24:13-35

The Church has given us 8 full days to stand at the empty tomb and ponder the meaning of the resurrection. It is really an invitation for us to meet the Risen One personally and to recognize his life-giving action in the events of history and especially our daily lives.

We are called to take time this week and reflect on our lives and discover how our hearts were warmed, were burning, when the Lord walked with us.

Perhaps our memory is a time when we felt like the man at the Temple gate looking for some help in our lives. Believing what the world had to offer was what we needed. Only to discover, as Saint Peter did, speaking really on behalf of Jesus, “I have no silver or gold, but what I have to give you is the power of Jesus of Nazareth and can raise us up out of our troubles.”

Or maybe we recall a moment when we just felt overwhelmed by life; perhaps grieving the loss of a job, or simply a major change in life to our situation or status, or grieving the death of someone close to us. . .. and as we look back we see how Jesus was walking beside us.

The resurrection promises that Jesus is with us. He walks with us in our journey of life. There is never a time when he is absent, but times when we are inattentive or caught up in our thoughts.

Our response to this promise is simple When we gather for liturgy, especially the Mass, when we hear the scriptures read – we say: “Thanks be to God.” When the host is elevated, we say, as St Thomas did: “My Lord and My God.”

So our pray this week, as Pope Benedict stated in one of his homilies during the Octave of Easter:

Dear brothers and sisters, may the joy of these days strengthen our faithful attachment to the Crucified and Risen Christ. Above all, may we let ourselves be won over by the fascination of his Resurrection. May Mary help us to be messengers of the light and joy of Easter for all our brethren. I say again:  Happy Easter.