The Pastor's Desk

Easter Sunday Reflection, Year A

Theme: This day was made by the Lord, Alleluia, Alleluia!

(Readings: 1st: Acts 10: 34-43; Ps: 118: 1-2.16-23; 2nd: Col 3:1-4; Gospel Jn 20: 1-9)

Dear brothers and sisters, Christ Our Lord has risen today! Alleluia! This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad. Jesus has risen, never to die again. After forty days of prayer, fasting and almsgiving, it is time to rejoice.

By his resurrection this Easter, Jesus makes a very important statement. That is, he is both the Lord of the living and of the dead. We died with him through our Lenten observances. So, let us also rise with Him through the power of the Holy Spirit. The same power that resurrected him is capable of resurrecting us (Rom 8:11). We are now made new people through the resurrection of Jesus. Because of that, this Easter day, we are also all called to join Paul in giving thanks to God: “Who in his great mercy has given us a new birth, by raising Christ from the dead” (Act 2: 42-43). The death of Christ was ours. Also, his resurrection, glory, and triumph are equally ours.

Christ did not put us to shame. Rather, we now have a sure hope in an inheritance that can never be destroyed. So, having been raised with Christ, we must act like the living and not the dead. This is because we share in the new life of Christ. Let us put aside our sinful life and live a virtuous life. Therefore, brothers and sisters, we must now seek the things of light, things that are noble, true, just, and things that glorify God. We must seek heavenly things, by living like freed people and citizens of heaven. This is what Paul instructs us to do in today’s second reading: “Since you have been brought back to true life with Christ, seek the things that are in heaven, where Christ is…”

Through this, Paul calls us to be aware of our new and exalted position in Christ. Let us be happy and rejoice for what God has done for us today in Christ. Let us sing with the Psalmist on this glorious day of Easter: “This day was made by the Lord; we rejoice and are glad. Finally, let us ask for the grace to enter into the joy of Jesus himself, the seed that fell to the ground and died, and is now, bearing abundant fruit, full of new life. We are one faith, one parish and one family. Alleluia, Alleluia!

Rev. Barnabas Shayo A.J.- Pastor-All Saints Parish