DATE : 4/4/2021
EVENT : Easter Sunday Celebration
COLOUR: white
READINGS : Acts 10:34,37-43; Resp. Psalm 117:1-2,16-17,22-23; Colossians 3:1-4; Sequence; John 20:1-9.
THEME: ALLELUIA!!! HE IS RISEN
Greetings beloved people of God. I welcome you to "My Catholic Homily Digest". On this Fourth day of April, which is the Easter Sunday of 2021, I wish to reflect with you on the theme: " Alleluia!!! He Is Risen". Beloved in Christ, I once went to carry out a funeral rite about a years ago. While the rite was going on, the wife of the deceased was crying and wailing uncontrollably. So, one of the elders walked up to her and scolded her saying: what do you hope to achieve with these tears of yours, if your husband should stand up from that coffin, do you think you can stand here and not run away? I can't imagine what the feelings of the disciples of Jesus were like, when he appeared to them for the first time. Where they overwhelmed with fear? Or overcomed with Joy? Where they scared or irritated? Did they think of running far away from him? Beloved, as we rejoice on this Easter Sunday, let us not forget to come to terms with the reality of the Lord's resurection and it's significance to our lives. His resurrection is completely a novel reality, a completely divine act, meant for our good. He arose to conquer our enemy: death, to restore our life and to demonstrate his supreme power over our greatest dread.
However, the central message of Easter is that Jesus Christ rose triumphantly from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion on Good Friday. This is the fulfilled prophecy of the Messiah who would be born, persecuted, die for our sins, and afterwards, rise on the third day (Isaiah 53). Thus, annually remembering the resurrection of Jesus Christ and his triumph over sin and death is a way to renew daily hope that we too have won victory over sin and death (Rom. 8:37). Although the true origin of the word 'Easter', remains disputed, several sources, especially the writings of the venerable Bede, suggest that it has a pre-Christian origin, and goes back to the name of a pre-Christian goddess Eostre. However, the celebration of the goddess was transformed and given a Christian meaning and significance, following the Christianisation of the West. Hence, the name Easter, stuck as the celebration of the glorious resurection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God and true Sun of Justice.
In the various readings of today, especially in the first reading, Act. 10:34-43, we heard how a formerly fearful and timid Peter spoke convincingly to Cornelius and his household, about the resurrection of Jesus. This was made possible through the resurrection power of Jesus which had strengthened the disciples to become fearless witnesses to this truth. In the same light, St. Paul, through admonishing the people at Collosae, warned us that, through faith in Christ Jesus, we have been brought back from death to life. So, it is fitting that we fix our gaze on Christ who is above in heaven, and not on any earthly thing which can only lead us back to death from which Christ has ransomed us. Thus, it will be a great and monumental shame that after experiencing the joy of Easter, we relapse back to our old self and lifestyle. It will be disgraceful beloved, that through our reckless fault, we miss this eternal life which Christ bought for us at the expensive price of his blood. It will be laughable that after conquering and triumphing over sin and death on our behalf, we are still slaves to sin and death. So, child of God, the best way to celebrate Easter is to appropriate this victory of Christ into our personal life. I pray that the Easter light of Christ will Illumine the darkest part of our life and that the joy of Easter will be our eternal reward.
Oh that today you would listen to his voice harden not your hearts (Ps.95:7-8).
LET US PRAY : Lord Jesus, may the celebration of this year's Easter bring me close to the salvation you purchased for me.
The Lord be with you....... and with your Spirit.
May Almighty God bless you in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit ....Amen
HAPPY EASTER SUNDAY BELOVED FRIENDS
@ Fada Emmanuel Nnamdi Megwara, MSP. ⛪
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