Alleluia! The Prince Of Life Is Alive. Alleluia!!

Easter Thursday

Acts 3:11-26
Luke 24:35-48

There are so many important lessons we can learn from today’s readings. In the Gospel, we see that the person who stood before the disciples and showed them his wounds for them to touch is a real person not a ghost. Jesus is truly risen and he is alive. Oh! What a scene! What a scene this most have been for the disciples. A note of joy mixed with sadness ( for they all ran away when he was arrested in the garden of Gethsemane).

He still call them to himself to touch him which implies that he still wants to have a deeper relationship with them. Thus, the wounds heals them of their disbelief and denial. It granted them forgiveness, peace and mercy, and above all, it opened the way to salvation and eternal life. By his wounds we are healed says Isaiah 53.5.

It means therefore that, the Church which is visible sign of Christ’s love and vessel through which the Sacraments are deposited and discharged; the Seven Sacraments given to us by Christ Himself, are infinitely effective in sharing His grace and glory with anyone who sincerely seeks Him.

Another important lesson that stands out is that with the death of Christ on the Cross and now that he is risen, the meaning of the Cross changes with myriads of meaning. By his death on the cross heaven is wedded to earth and the cross becomes a necessary part of Divine Providence.

From then on, the Cross has become a pulpit ;it is seen to be the greatest and sign of the eternal love of God I.e. The death of Christ on the Cross is the perfect sacrifice once and for all that paid for our redemption. It is the pinnacle of Divine self revelation. It is the divine solidarity with all human suffering. It is the eternal moment of forgiveness. It is a enduring model of discipleship. It is the point from which Satan is driven out of the world.

It is the Beauty that saves the world. It is the access of love that refines the world. It is a complete demonstration of God’s love and forgiveness. It is the sacrifice in sacrificing . It is the victory over sin. It is the conqueror of evil. It is the absolution of war.

It is the infinite shame of principalities and powers and ultimately it is the death by which death is ultimately conquered and destroyed .Hebrews 2:14-16. In today’s first reading, we hear Peter speaking about the death and Resurrection of Christ and the need to repent of wicked ways and sins and accept Jesus Christ as their savior else they perish in their own death.

So as long as any individual, culture or nation accepts Jesus as the Lord and Master that person, culture or nation will be saved. It is in this that power and the authority of Christ Resurrection is felt. Thus, the crucifixion is a victory revealed by the resurrection of Christ.

The secret of God’s power lies in the fact that all authority comes from God and without Him we are nothing and we can do absolutely nothing. God is love. There may be people who think Catholics are wasting time worshipping God at Mass.

They may think we are ignorant because we gather as God’s Holy People. But the wisdom of God tells us that there is a time to wait on God and a time to work for God. And this is a time to wait on God. That is when the power of Christ’s resurrection is felt. Ephsians 1:19-23.

These times that we wait on the Lord are important not just for our Christian community, parish or our families but also for the world and for humanity. Whenever Christ appears to his disciples, He wants to teach them , he wants to pass across an important message. He teaches them the scriptures and they in turn listen.

Faith comes through hearing and listening is understood when what has been spoken about is done. Thus, listening is perfected through obedience. For it helps prayers to become more contemplative. Listening is the beginning of good preaching.

Our faith is given to us to be shared, so take what you hear today and by your actions announce the Good News to a barren world. You are, after all, salt for the earth! Stir things up and bring to those who have dulled their faith the flavor of God’s abundant grace.

PRAYER

May the Lord unlock the gate of opportunities for you. May the good Lord bestow his courage and strength on us so that we might speak fearlessly as his witness. Amen.

Fr Joseph Osho