Resurrection: A call to transformed living

Mar 31, 2024

Easter Sunday (B)
Readings: Acts of the Apostle 10:34, 37-43;
Col. 3:1-4 or 1 Cor. 5:6-8;
Gospel: John 20:1-9 or Mark 16:1-7

Today, as we gather to celebrate the glorious resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, throughout the world, we are reminded of the profound truth that has shaped the course of human history: death has been conquered, and new life reigns triumphant. In the readings we have just heard, we are invited to reflect on the significance of this momentous event and its implications for our lives.

In the Acts of the Apostles, we encounter Peter’s powerful testimony to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He declares boldly that God shows no partiality, but welcomes all who fear Him and do what is right. Peter bears witness to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, proclaiming Him as the one whom God anointed with the Holy Spirit and power.
Through His resurrection, Jesus has become the source of forgiveness and salvation for all who believe in Him. We are called to permeate this forgiveness to all whom we encounter with both friend and foe alike.

In his letter to the Colossians, St Paul exhorts us to set our minds on things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. He reminds us that our lives are hidden with Christ in God and that, when Christ who is our life appears, we will also appear with Him in glory. This profound truth calls us to live in a manner that reflects our identity as followers of Christ, living the virtues and values of Christ, seeking the things that are above and not being bound by the fleeting pleasures of this world.

Finally, in the Gospel according to John, we witness the awe-inspiring moment when Mary Magdalene discovers the empty tomb. Running to tell Peter and the beloved disciple, she declares, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” Peter and the beloved disciple rush to the tomb and find it empty, with the burial cloths lying there. They see and believe, for as yet they did not understand the Scripture that He must rise from the dead.

My dear friends, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is not merely a historical event to be commemorated; it is a reality that should transform our lives here and now. Just as Christ emerged victorious from the tomb, so too are we called to rise with Him to newness of life. The resurrection is a clarion call to leave behind the old way of living and embrace the new life that Christ offers us.

In the light of the resurrection, we are called to embrace a life of holiness and righteousness, following the example of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are called to love one another as He has loved us, to forgive as we have been forgiven, and to seek justice and mercy in all our dealings with others. The resurrection empowers us to overcome sin and death and to live as children of the light, shining brightly in a world that is often shrouded in darkness.

Moreover, the resurrection gives us hope in the face of life’s trials and tribulations. Just as Christ conquered death, so too can we overcome the challenges that we encounter on our journey of faith. No matter how difficult our circumstances may be, we can take comfort in the knowledge that Christ is with us, guiding us and sustaining us by His grace.

As we celebrate Easter Sunday, the day of the Lord’s Resurrection, let us renew our commitment to living as faithful disciples of our risen Lord. Let us set our minds on things that are above, seeking always to do His will and to glorify His name in all that we say and do. And let us never forget our identity, the profound truth that we are beloved children of God, redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ and called to share in His resurrected life both now and for all eternity.

May the joy of the resurrection fill our hearts this day and every day, and may we be ever faithful in bearing witness to the transformative power of Christ’s victory over sin and death. Amen.