Christ is risen, Alleluia!

Reading the gospel, I was struck by the first words of the risen Jesus: “Greetings!...Don’t be afraid, go and tell my brothers that they must leave for Galilee. There they will see me.”

After being unjustly crucified and abandoned by his disciples, the risen Christ came back not to take revenge but wanting to offer his friendship to his disciples and to all of us. A friendship that is eternal. He makes the first move, and meets the women. Why the women and not the soldiers? Because the women looked for him. Only those who search for him with faith will meet him.

He tells them he will also be in Galilee.

Where can we meet Jesus? He’s everywhere we are, not only in a particular place anymore.

In this Easter week, let’s seek for Him, with faith that “you will teach me the path of life, unbounded joy in your presence, at your right hand delight forever.” (Psalm 16:11 )

TUESDAY: PSALM 33 ; JOHN 20:11-18

In John’s gospel, the first words of the risen Christ are to Mary of Magdala: “Woman, why are you weeping?”

He is so attentive to how we are! The risen Christ wants to give back our joy, He wants to renew our meaning in life. Thinking Jesus was dead, Mary Magdala felt she had lost the meaning of her life.

This makes me think back on Holy Saturday, the emptiness and sadness I felt when going to Church and seeing the tabernacle empty! Without Jesus presence, there is an emptiness that nothing and none can fill. Unfortunately, we aren’t aware of this always. But now, going back to Church and seeing Jesus presence in the tabernacle that lifts up my joy, for nothing can separate us from His love and presence. He is risen, He is in our midst, offering us always His grace, in other words, the capacity to forgive, to love, to believe, to be console... even in the midst of ambiguous situations!

I invite you to speak to him in prayer about what gives you joy and what takes your joy away. Ask Him also: which joy does He want to give you?

“Shout for joy, you upright; give thanks to the Lord on the lyre... sing to him a new song, make sweet music for your cry of victory... he is our help and our shield, for in him our heart rejoices, in his holy name we trust. Lord, let your faithful love rest on us, as our hope has rested in you.”

(Psalm 33:1-3 ; 20-22)

WEDNESDAY: PSALM 105 ; LUKE 24:13-35

Today’s gospel is another very powerful account of the resurrection. Jesus meets two disappointed disciples on the road to Emmaus. They had lost their hope in Jesus. It strikes me again to see how Jesus approaches them; his patience to listen and guide them to believe again. It is the process from believing in Jesus when seeing that life is easy and wonderful, to believing in Jesus also when life presents us difficulties, sufferings, and ambiguities. I would also say that this is the process for a mature following of Christ, from ideal to reality supported by faith.

How many people also feel disappointed with their faith in Christ when they see scandals in the Church or when they pass through sufferings which they cannot explain or find hard to accept?

“Do not touch my anointed ones; to my prophets you may do no harm.” (Psalm 105:15 ) This psalm expresses the love of Christ for all baptised, his eagerness to protect us.

He is “faithful to his sacred promise, he led out his people with rejoicing, his chosen ones with shouts of joy...”

Let’s ask the risen Christ to come, to renew our hope and faith, and even to use our lives if He needs, to be witnesses of His love stronger than death.

THURSDAY: PSALM 9 ; LUKE 24:35-48

Other powerful words of the risen Christ are: “Peace be with you” and also, “Why are you so agitated and why are these doubts stirring in your hearts?...

n: justify;"> Faith in the resurrection of Christ is faith in our own resurrection too. Our bodies will b e also glorified. God’s love goes beyond the boundaries of death. Christ’s resurrection also tells us that whatever we do and live in our earthly life following Christ’s paths and options in life, that will be eternal. In other words, the options we make to follow Christ, such as to forgive, to live in the truth, to be compassionate, to love beyond prejudices, to help others to believe and grow in Christ..., that is eternal.

This reminds me of a song that I love:

“Set your hearts on the highest gifts, on the things that come from your maker in heaven, these three things are all that remain: faith, hope and love, and the greatest is love!”

So, let’s thank God:

“I thank you Lord, with my whole heart. I recount all your wonders. I rejoice and delight in you... See, the Lord is enthroned forever, keeping his throne form, he will himself judge the world in uprightness, he will give a true verdict on the nations. May the Lord be a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.” (Psalm 9 )

FRIDAY: PSALM 118 ; JOHN 21:1-14

“I thank you for hearing me and making yourself my saviour. Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his faithful love endures forever.” (Psalm 118 )

While some where already rejoicing for having seen the risen Lord, Peter was still in desolation, back to his old way of living, fishing! The one whom Jesus trusted his church, was also in need to meet the risen Christ.

“Throw the net out to starboard and you will find something... It is the Lord!”

The risen Christ renewed Peter’s faith and trust in Jesus.

A Christian life does not lie on our own strength and good merits. It is all about Jesus. He is the centre of our lives and self giving, of our love and hope.

class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Lord Jesus, as you appeared to all your disciples, in the particular way each one could believe in you and in your promises again, come to us and to all Christians, renew our faith in you and help us to be to have you at the centre of our lives. That what you say can be more important and relevant than what we feel, or what other people think/ say of us.

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Christ is risen, Alleluia!