Sunday April 20, 2014 - Easter Sunday - CHRIST IS RISEN!

Gospel jn 20:1-9

On the first day of the week,
Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning,
while it was still dark,
and saw the stone removed from the tomb.
So she ran and went to Simon Peter
and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them,
“They have taken the Lord from the tomb,
and we don’t know where they put him.”
So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb.
They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter
and arrived at the tomb first;
he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.
When Simon Peter arrived after him,
he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there,
and the cloth that had covered his head,
not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place.
Then the other disciple also went in,
the one who had arrived at the tomb first,
and he saw and believed.
For they did not yet understand the Scripture
that he had to rise from the dead.

Sisters and brothers in the Lord; CHRIST IS RISEN! INDEED, HE IS RISEN! Today we celebrate that glorious day when our Lord conquered sin and death once and for all!  Joy fills our hearts as we come to worship our Risen Lord!  On this Easter Sunday let nothing bring you down, let no sufferings or tragedies of this fallen world consume your heart; for today Jesus the Christ, the Just Judge, manifests the divine sovereignty that has authority over heaven and earth!  So often we can become so discouraged by the injustices of our world; the extreme poverty that sees children perishing from hunger and lack of basic health care, families torn apart by war and unjust immigration laws, and the so many divisions caused by socio-economic inequalities.  These problems in our world can at times give us a negative view of the world; but today is the reassurance we need!  CHRIST IS RISEN!  Though completely innocent (perfect in every way in fact); Jesus suffered, died, was buried and on the third day - conquered the grave once and for all!  This is the encouragement that sustains us, this is the strength we need as we are called to go out into the world and be instruments of His divine Love, Mercy, and Justice.  Sisters and brothers, we are a Resurrection People, strengthened by our Lord’s Victory and called to go out into the world and speak in the face of injustice and corruption.  Let today EASTER SUNDAY be the inspiration we need to renew our own hearts, our families and our world in ensuring Justice and Truth for all people, but most especially for the poor.  Happy Easter and may our awesome God fill your hearts with the JOY and GRACE of our Risen Lord!

“In the face of serious forms of social and economic injustice and political corruption affecting entire peoples and nations, there is a growing reaction of indignation on the part of very many people whose fundamental human rights have been trampled upon and held in contempt, as well as an ever more widespread and acute sense of the need for a radical personal and social renewal capable of ensuring justice, solidarity, honesty and openness.” No. 98  IOANNES PAULUS PP. II VERITATIS SPLENDOR