April 15, 2018: 3rd Sunday Easter B
April 15, 2018: 3rd Sunday Easter B
Click to hear Audio Homily
I would like for us to ponder a question with which the disciples in the Upper Room grappled. If we were aware that Jesus is risen, would we lead a different life? Would it change how we spend our time, how we work, what we buy, what we watch, and whom we love? The disciples who barricaded themselves in a room for the fear of persecution had to grapple with that question. When Jesus appeared in their midst in a locked room, the disciples believed that Jesus was a ghost. He reassured them that he was not a ghost by inviting them to touch his body, allowing them to see the very marks of nails on his hands and feet. He also ate cooked fish. He reminded them that the scriptures prophesied about him, and the scriptures had been fulfilled in him. Jesus then commissioned them to go out to all the world, beyond their fears and anxiety, to proclaim his life and preach repentance and forgiveness of sins in his name.
Have we at times barricaded ourselves behind our fears which robbed us of the joy in our risen Lord? Easter challenges us to alter our mindset to embrace the living presence of the risen Lord. The resurrection of Jesus is more than just an event that happened once a long time ago. Because of the desires and temptations of the secular world, we tend to look at the events of the resurrection and even Jesus’ birth as distant, static history that enamors us. I’m here to tell you that Jesus is here now waiting for us to follow him. We come to know more deeply the risen Christ by allowing him to grow closer to us through prayer. We must take the time to pray and allow God to speak to us. If we are faithful to prayer each day, we will then grow more aware of God’s living presence within us, and this awareness will strengthen our hope in His promises, confident in His mercy for us despite our failures.
At every Mass, we relive the experience of the apostles who witnessed risen Jesus in the midst of them. The Eucharist we receive is not a symbol or simple flour wafer but truly the living Jesus who comes into the depths of our hearts, to empower us to witness with our lives that Jesus lives. With God on our side, we can be confident in His love, and need not be afraid of what the future holds for us. Even when we encounter trouble in this world, trust God to lead us through it and accomplish His purpose for us.
I would like for us to ponder a question with which the disciples in the Upper Room grappled. If we were aware that Jesus is risen, would we lead a different life? Would it change how we spend our time, how we work, what we buy, what we watch, and whom we love? The disciples who barricaded themselves in a room for the fear of persecution had to grapple with that question. When Jesus appeared in their midst in a locked room, the disciples believed that Jesus was a ghost. He reassured them that he was not a ghost by inviting them to touch his body, allowing them to see the very marks of nails on his hands and feet. He also ate cooked fish. He reminded them that the scriptures prophesied about him, and the scriptures had been fulfilled in him. Jesus then commissioned them to go out to all the world, beyond their fears and anxiety, to proclaim his life and preach repentance and forgiveness of sins in his name.
Have we at times barricaded ourselves behind our fears which robbed us of the joy in our risen Lord? Easter challenges us to alter our mindset to embrace the living presence of the risen Lord. The resurrection of Jesus is more than just an event that happened once a long time ago. Because of the desires and temptations of the secular world, we tend to look at the events of the resurrection and even Jesus’ birth as distant, static history that enamors us. I’m here to tell you that Jesus is here now waiting for us to follow him. We come to know more deeply the risen Christ by allowing him to grow closer to us through prayer. We must take the time to pray and allow God to speak to us. If we are faithful to prayer each day, we will then grow more aware of God’s living presence within us, and this awareness will strengthen our hope in His promises, confident in His mercy for us despite our failures.
At every Mass, we relive the experience of the apostles who witnessed risen Jesus in the midst of them. The Eucharist we receive is not a symbol or simple flour wafer but truly the living Jesus who comes into the depths of our hearts, to empower us to witness with our lives that Jesus lives. With God on our side, we can be confident in His love, and need not be afraid of what the future holds for us. Even when we encounter trouble in this world, trust God to lead us through it and accomplish His purpose for us.
