Alleluia - He is Risen!

We live in dark and uncertain times. The conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine rank as the most serious conflicts among many more throughout our world. We live in an age of unprecedented weaponry, missiles capable of destruction on a scale never seen before.

Power seems concentrated into the hands of individuals, with the capacity to start a global conflict of unimaginable proportions.
These are scary times.

This weekend we are celebrating a message of joy and immeasurable hope, a message that proclaims the victory of love over hatred, of light over darkness, of life over death. Jesus had undergone his own unimaginable horror: rejection, false accusations, taunts, suffering and finally death like a criminal. This was a story that had seemingly ended in tragedy. His disciples had abandoned him. Even Peter his chief Lieutenant had denied all knowledge of him, it seemed as if all had ended in tears. Easter morning was to change all that. The light that they thought to be extinguished was burning brightly again.

The Tomb of death had become the place of resurrection, the love that burned in the heart of Jesus was a fire that would ignite the faith of billions yet unborn. Easter changed everything.

In the days and weeks that followed the disciples were to have many encounters with the Risen Lord, these were moments of reconciliation and healing, moments of restoration and communion. No more skulking around behind locked doors, no longer paralysed by fear; the Risen Jesus transformed them. Even Peter was empowered to undo his threefold denial with a threefold profession of love and faith. No finger of accusation or condemnation from Jesus, rather compassionate understanding and healing.

The ultimate message of Easter is that God is in control. When humankind does its worst, the love of God prevails. Jesus would remain with them awhile, but the time for his Ascension would come. It was then that the Holy Spirit would be poured out on them, they would literally be 'clothed with power from on high.'
(Lk 24:49).
The best indeed was yet to come, and it still is!

May the light of His love burn in our hearts. Happy Easter!

Philip Curran
St. Mary's & St. Patrick's Parishes