In the gospel, we see women experiencing the risen Jesus. With their currently sad situation, this was something unexpected. A gift. A pleasant surprise. Jesus did not just spend time with them and told them what is happening, he involved them as well. He made them act. Jesus told them to proclaim to others the good news that he is risen.
As we celebrate Easter, this should be our task too - Proclaim Jesus to others. Celebrate his life and victory over sin and death. More importantly, celebrate and proclaim his great love for us every day
Admittedly, it is not easy to do so. We do not always feel happy and excited to start the day. Work. Deadlines. Requirements. Quotas. Problems. These are some things making us dread a new day. Especially now, the covid pandemic seems like a valid excuse not to proclaim God. We are worried. We are stressed. And we probably are not in the mood for this. But despite all of these, we should never forget two words that overpower them : God's love.
God’s love is greater than all the challenges that we experience. God’s love is real, and was proven to us on the cross. God’s love is alive and is reaching out to us everyday. God's love and his great plans are greater and mightier than all the problems and challenges we are encountering. As long as we allow God to love us, we will be able to face challenges, for we would realize how small the challenges are, as compared to God’s intense love for us.
God’s love and his power are greater than this pandemic. His love is greater than the fear and problem we are facing. We just need to trust in him. We just need to focus on him. And we just need to do our part.
What am I feeling as I wake up today? Am I excited to proclaim God? With the corona virus pandemic, what do I feel? Do I continue to proclaim God by my life?
May we remember to focus on God's love as we share and proclaim him through our lives.
Father God,
FIRST READING
On the day of Pentecost, Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed: “You who are Jews, indeed all of you staying in Jerusalem. Let this be known to you, and listen to my words.
“You who are children of Israel, hear these words. Jesus the Nazorean was a man commended to you by God with mighty deeds, wonders, and signs, which God worked through him in your midst, as you yourselves know. This man, delivered up by the set plan and foreknowledge of God, you killed, using lawless men to crucify him. But God raised him up, releasing him from the throes of death, because it was impossible for him to be held by it. For David says of him:
I saw the Lord ever before me, with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed. Therefore my heart has been glad and my tongue has exulted; my flesh, too, will dwell in hope, because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld, nor will you suffer your holy one to see corruption. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.
My brothers, one can confidently say to you about the patriarch David that he died and was buried, and his tomb is in our midst to this day. But since he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants upon his throne, he foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was he abandoned to the netherworld nor did his flesh see corruption. God raised this Jesus; of this we are all witnesses. Exalted at the right hand of God, he poured forth the promise of the Holy Spirit that he received from the Father, as you both see and hear.”
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope. or R. Alleluia.
Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge, I say to the LORD, “My Lord are you.” O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup, you it is who hold fast my lot.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord. or R. Alleluia.
I bless the LORD who counsels me; even in the night my heart exhorts me. I set the LORD ever before me; with him at my right hand, I shall not be disturbed.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord. or R. Alleluia.
Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices, my body, too, abides in confidence; Because you will not abandon my soul to the nether world, nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord. or R. Alleluia.
You will show me the path to life, fullness of joys in your presence, the delights of your right hand forever.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord. or R. Alleluia.
ALLELUIA
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
This is the day the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce the news to his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”
While they were going, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had happened. The chief priests assembled with the elders and took counsel; then they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him while we were asleep.’ And if this gets to the ears of the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” The soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has circulated among the Jews to the present day.
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