There is such a beautiful scripture verse today, in the first reading for mass, “But God raised him up, releasing him from the throes of death, because it was impossible for him to be held by it.” Isn’t that awesome? Death didn’t stand a chance against the Lord Jesus. The whole reading from the Acts of the Apostles today is just beautiful:
“I saw the Lord ever before me, with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed. Therefore my heart has been glad and my tongue exulted; my flesh, too, will dwell in hope, because you will not abandon my soul to the nether world, nor will you suffer your holy one to see corruption. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.”
Don’t these words just literally come alive and sing in your heart when you read them? These verses in scripture describe perfectly our Easter hope, which rests in Jesus Christ, who was raised from the dead, and our confidence in him and our own future as well. Yes, we have a future! There is more to life than this. Life is so short. No one wants it to end. Death comes too soon for all of us. But, with Jesus Christ by our side, it never really ends. We will rise to a new life in heaven with him, and with all those we love, who love him too. Love is the key to everything and Jesus Christ is love incarnate.
The first reading for mass today was written on the day of Pentecost, but the reason it may have been paired with the gospel today, could be because of the beautiful scripture verses that Peter wrote. Even though King David initially wrote these words long before the time of Christ, they still very beautifully applied to the people that Saint Peter was speaking to in the first reading, and to us as well, over two thousand years later. The words in the bible are eternal, living words. They will exist until the end of time.
Our Easter joy is not dependent on the current circumstances of our lives. Indeed, nothing in this world can take away our happiness, our peace and our joy, unless we allow it. Our joy is not dependent upon what is currently going on in our lives, but most of all, our joy is also not dependent on what other people think of us.
After Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, they ran and told the good news of his resurrection to the disciples. The guards who witnessed the empty tomb also went to their superiors and told them what happened. They were given bribes to keep quiet. The top religious leaders of their time, paid them off. Can you imagine that?
There were two completely different results that occurred after Christ’s death. But, do you remember when Jesus died on the cross? The veil in the temple was torn in two. Christ’s death separated the old covenant from the new. The new wineskins Jesus spoke about in the past, was the Christian faith, the new covenant. The Jewish people and the new Christians, parted ways. This rift continues to this day. Belief in the risen Christ is a choice. We either believe it, or not. There is no middle ground.
The last thought for the day though, might be to realize the need to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth in our daily affairs. Look at the damage that was caused by the Jewish authorities who paid off the soldiers that witnessed Christ’s empty tomb. The damage has been permanent and lasting throughout the centuries. Isn’t it a terrible thing, how a lie can have such lasting consequences? The truth can too though Christ’s disciples testified to the truth in today’s gospel, and this too, has lasting and eternal consequences for all of us.
Daily Mass Readings:
Acts 4: 23-31 / Psalm 16: 1-2a, 5, 7-11 / Matthew 28: 8-15
