Readings and Reflections for Easter Sunday
Dear Friends,
Isaiah 25:6-9: The prophet looks forward to the day when death is swallowed up, tears washed away, all disgrace and mourning taken away from “all the earth.” Meanwhile we wait, but as people who have hope in what God will do.
Acts 10:34-43: Peter declares that God is not “partial” but speaks peace to anyone in every nation – “peace by Jesus Christ – he is Lord of all.” This message that began in Jesus could not be stopped by killing him. The risen Christ now sends the message through his witnesses that “everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
Mark 16:1-8: On Easter morning the women find the huge gravestone already rolled back and the tomb empty. They are given the message that Jesus has been raised and they will see him.
Comment: With Isaiah, we still wait for the day when all causes of mourning and loss are swallowed up forever. We wait for “thy kingdom come on earth, as it is in heaven.” As we wait, we are given a powerful message: “Christ has been raised, and you will see him!” We who have been blessed to “see” and experience the risen Jesus in so many different and unique ways are invited to take heart. We are able to live as people who are assured of God’s victory over everything that destroys life. The power of God that raised Jesus from the grave really is alive and at work in each of us who believe. We become the risen presence of Christ to our world!
Alleluia! Christ is Risen!
The Lord is Risen indeed! Alleluia!