The Resurrection of the Lord - April 20, 2025 (Year C)

What more could I add to the glory of Christ's Resurrection?  This is the moment that all other moments point towards, both before and after.  Our life changed in Jesus's victory over death, as we now share in His triumph.  As the Psalm calls out - let us rejoice and be glad!  The celebrations this weekend are sacred and have been memorialized ever since Jesus was found to have left the tomb, as retold in the Gospel.  We hear of Mary Magdalene finding the empty tomb and racing back to Peter and John to bring them back.  Peter examines the tomb and, I assume, is trying to comprehend what he is witness to, as he is looking for any indication at what has happened as he sees the burial cloths rolled up and placed aside.  John, on the other hand, walks in and understands and believes right away.  

Now, it is noted at the end of the Gospel passage that they did not yet understand that Jesus had to rise from the dead in order to fulfill the scriptures.  However, think back to what we hear from Peter as he speaks in the Acts of the Apostles.  This comes after he has had time to process and he is able to put the core principles of faith of those early followers into the words that form their mission to spread the good news.  

And I will end with a brief note on the second reading from St. Paul's Letter to the Colossians, for it has an important message right away: seek what is above.  On this day of days, Easter Sunday, we celebrate and remember Christ in his glorious triumph.  But in this world, we are inundated with distractions.  To be true to the Resurrection, we must carry Jesus's victory for us in our hearts and minds every day.  This is how we begin to return a fraction of the immense outpouring of love that God and His Son have for each of us.


Disclaimer: This will be at the bottom of all reflections, but I’m not intending to put out any sort of professional critique, attempt at a homily, or investigation into the historicity of the readings, but will “let the Spirit move me” as some say, to share what has spoken to me in my reading and reflection on the set of Readings for each week.  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Book Review: The 2% Way by Dr. Myron L. Rolle, MD MSc

The 2% Way by Dr. Myron L. Rolle, MD MSc “Let your actions be driven by your expectations for yourself, not external forces” Summary : First, let me say that this book will make you feel that you have underachieved, no matter how much you’ve accomplished.   Dr. Rolle is a former No.1 football recruit who played at the highest level collegiately, graduated early, passed on the NFL draft the first time as he accepted a Rhodes Scholarship, then was drafted in the NFL, bounced around teams for a few years, went to medical school, and became a neurosurgeon.   Needless to say, he has quite an interesting perspective on what it takes to achieve lofty goals.   Dr. Rolle focuses on small incremental improvements every day to get 2% better.   While the terminology of “getting 2% better” was introduced to him in college by one of his coaches, this method was already ingrained in him as he had been achieving his own lofty goals and practicing a high level of self-restra...
Read more

Fourth Sunday of Lent - March 30, 2025 (Year C)

This week, we begin with in Joshua marking a critical point in the flight from Egypt.  The passage begins with God removing the reproach of Egypt, transitioning the Israelites from wanderers subsisting on manna provided from above to settlers who are able to celebrate the Passover from cultivating the land.  And it is easy to hear the Psalm sang out by these Israelites, as they are able to tangibly taste and see the realization of God's promise to Moses.  Those who are still with them have been faithful and trusting of the Lord, and they have been rewarded. The second reading provides a great transition linking the first reading to the Gospel.  St. Paul reminds us that we must allow ourselves to be made anew by God.  Through this Lenten season, we should be focusing on this message, ridding ourselves of our sinful habits and to be reconciled in the new life that Jesus and God have prepared for us.  We must be like the Israelites who found themselves marking...
Read more

Fifth Sunday of Lent - April 6, 2025 (Year C)

My theme for this set of readings is that God will make all things new.  Now, there is a caveat to that statement, as it must be done with our consent and willingness to partake in a journey with God.  We see this played out in the reading from Isaiah, where the Exodus is retold poetically.  Here, God remakes the fortunes of the downtrodden Israelites as they leave their old selves behind in Egypt and are made anew in the promised land.  But the key line from this passage is in the middle, as Isaiah reminds them not to dwell on the past but to live in the light of the present blessings.  And this is what is reiterated throughout the Psalm as we affirm that we are filled with joy from the wonderous actions God has performed for us.  And with this in mind, we turn to St. Paul's words in the second reading. To close his letter, St. Paul says that he has forgotten what's behind him, and is focused on what awaits him in the next life, pursuing that prize of God'...
Read more