Easter

Second Sunday of Easter

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Readings: Acts 4:32–35; Psalm 118:2–4, 13–15, 22–24; 1 John 5:1–6; John 20:19–31.

Our Lord shows his wounds today in the Gospels to the disciples and says, “Peace Be With You.” They’d all abandoned him when he needed them, and showing those wounds could have been to shame them, but Jesus wanted to communicate a message of mercy, not condemnation.

Sometimes we forget that we’ve been forgiven. Jesus in showing his wounds today says, in a sense, “what happened, happened, but be at peace, I forgive you.” Every sin we commit wounds Our Lord, and if we don’t realize that, obviously we’re not going to be asking mercy from anyone, and not showing much mercy when others hurt us.

Conversion means realizing we’ve gone off-track and hurt people along the way, including the people we love. Our Lord is always waiting for us to turn back to him and to offer us his peace in order to get us back on track. In every sacrament of Confession we acknowledge that we’ve hurt Christ and hurt others: we acknowledge the wounds and Christ tells us to be at peace, because all is forgiven. When we remember all the mercy we have been shown it helps us, in turn, to be more forgiving toward others. Let’s show Our Lord today that we appreciate his mercy toward us by being more merciful and helping to spread the peace of Christ, so that we can all be, as the First Reading reminds us, “of one heart and mind.” Let’s never forget that we’ve been forgiven.

Easter Saturday

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Readings: Acts 4:13–21; Psalm 118:1, 14–15b, 16–21; Mark 16:9–15.

Why is Our Lord so upset with the Eleven today? The Gospel says it was because of their lack of faith and hardness of heart. They didn’t believe what Mary Magdalene had told them, or the two disciples. Their fellow disciples were trying to share the good news and their response was a lack of faith. Alongside a scolding from Our Lord they receive the mission of spreading the Gospel everywhere and to every creature.

Mary Magdalene and the two disciples on the road were trying to do something when Jesus found them, whether it was right or wrong. Jesus came to them out in the field and helped them stay on track. In contrast, the Eleven, his most trusted disciples, weren’t doing anything: they were shut up in a room full of fear and uncertainty. Jesus was hard on them, but he put them back on track: what a difference between these frightened men who are supposed to be the Apostles and the example of witness to Christ that they show later on in the First Reading. They got the message.

The Church is called apostolic not only because it is founded on the Apostles and their testimony, but also because every member is called to be an apostle, a disciple of Christ who goes out to share the Gospel and spread the good news. Let’s not be afraid today to show our faith in Christ to others, trusting that he will help us stay on track. Let’s do something for him.

Easter Friday

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Readings: Acts 4:1–12; Psalm 118:1–2, 4, 22–27a; John 21:1–14.

Can you imagine Our Lord helping you at work or cooking you breakfast? The Gospel today reminds us that after his earthly mission Jesus works behind the scenes and chooses to reveal himself when it’s necessary. In the accounts we’ve considered so far the Risen Christ chooses to reveal himself; John in this account says that this was the third time Jesus had revealed himself to the disciples since his resurrection. He is always with us. He’s at our workplace, in our kitchen, and at school. He works miracles and kindnesses every day, but he stays very low key.

John recognizes Our Lord’s handiwork today in the great catch after a night fishing. Peter only needs to hear that Jesus is near to drop everything and head toward him. Let’s thank Our Lord for all the little miracles and kindnesses he grants us every day, and when we do spot his handiwork from time to time, let’s draw nearer to him to thank him. When our work seems fruitless, remember that Our Lord blesses our perseverance sooner or later.

Easter Thursday

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Readings: Acts 3:11–26; Psalm 8:2ab, 5–9; Gospel Luke 24:35–48.

Today’s readings remind us that Jesus even today is not only alive and well, but he is active. In the First Reading St. Peter is clear that the miraculous healing that has taken place was done in the power and name of Jesus. In every celebration of a sacrament Jesus continues to sanctify us and in the Eucharist he is really among us.

The Gospel today reminds us that Jesus is real, even today. He’s not just a memory, a historical figure who made a great impact on history. He’s not a ghost, something not quite dead that haunts our conscience and makes us uneasy wondering where he is or what he is doing. He’s active and present in our lives, whether we’re aware of it or not, and more real and alive than we could ever imagine.

Just as he gave the disciples signs that he was truly alive, don’t be afraid to ask him to reveal himself to you in the daily events of your life. It’s not a question of if he is present and active in our lives, but whether we realize he is. Don’t be shy about speaking with him in those silent moments of the day and asking him what he thinks about your life.

Easter Wednesday

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Readings: Acts 3:1–10; Psalm 105:1–9; Luke 24:13–35.

The disciples on the road to Emmaus in today’s Gospel remind us that when the events of life just don’t seem to connect, or they don’t turn out as we expect, we need to listen more closely not only to what Our Lord is trying to tell us through situations and circumstance, but also what he has been trying to tell us all along. The disciples expected a type of savior and salvation that they didn’t get, and they couldn’t connect the dots on their own to understand what Jesus had been trying to teach them all along.

Jesus is the Word who connects all the dots in Sacred Scripture. He showed the disciples today how Sacred Scripture pointed to him, to what he must undergo, and to what would happen as a result. He wants to shed light on our lives through meditating on his words. If you’re having a hard time connecting the dots and understanding life, seek out Jesus in Sacred Scripture and he will help you to understand. Listen to him more closely and ask him to explain whatever you don’t understand about life. He always has an answer.