The Resurrection of our Lord

Readings for April 12, 2020
Easter Sunday

Acts 10:34, 37-43
Psalm 118:1-2, 16-27, 22-23
Colossians 3:1-4 or
Colossians 5:6-8
John 20:1-9 or
Matthew 28:1-10

www.usccb.org/bible/readings/

“This man God raised on the third day and granted that he be visible … to us, the witnesses chosen by God in advance … He commissioned us to preach to the people and testify that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead.”
Acts 10:40-42

Jesus died, rose, and ate and drank with his friends. These are facts of history, testified to by witnesses of his resurrection. Choosing not to believe does not negate the facts. Nor does it hamstring us who do believe from carrying out the Great Commission. 

We who live in the Truth are called to proclaim the Truth. And the Truth is this: Jesus lived as he taught, lifting high the lowly and doing all things in love and obedience. He died for us — for me — and rose again that I may know that God keeps His promises.

And now I have proclaimed the Truth with my words, but there is still more to be done to fulfill my Great Commission from this week’s Easter reading from the book of (appropriately named) Acts. There is a quote attributed to St. Francis of Assisi which says, “Preach the Gospel at all times. And, when all else fails, use words.” We will always preach more with our actions than we ever will with our words. So it is best that I live in the examples to which I most want to attest. With God’s unimaginable mercy, I can forgive others as He forgives me. With Jesus’ humility, I can accept obedience to God’s commands. With the Holy Spirit living within me, I can have the strength to live out this call to love others, so to return to God the love He first gave to me through His Son’s death, and again through my life.

Jesus Christ is Risen today! Alleluia! May we always live in the Truth of Christ’s love as we share the Good News with our lives. Amen. Alleluia!