"The Lord says, 'I have chosen you from the world to go and bear fruit that will last, alleluia." (John 15: 16, 19)
I reply: "I will be witness to you in the world, O Lord. I will spread the knowledge of your name among my brothers, alleluia." (Psalm 18: 50; 21:23)
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, my Father, all things are possible to you. Let your full will be accomplished in my life.
"Lord, give us joy by these Easter mysteries. Let the continuous offering of this sacrifice by which we are renewed bring us to eternal happiness…" (Mass Prayer in Easter Season)
The Lord gives joy.
We are renewed by the continuous offering and participation of the Eucharist. Through the Eucharist, the Lord renews our youth like an eagle.
"As Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so must the Son of man be lifted up so that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him." (John 3: 14-15)
Christ must be lifted up before we can have eternal life. There is a divine necessity for the passion and death of Jesus Christ. We enter into the mysteries of Jesus Christ through faith. Faith here means accepting what God says and aligning our behavior with what we believe.
"The apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of Jesus Christ with great power, and they were all accorded great respect." (Acts 4:32)
To experience the power of the resurrection and to proclaim it, this is my daily challenge.
If Christ is not risen and alive, what can explain the peace I feel in the midst of turmoil? What can explain the joy and hope? Christ is truly risen. He is with me.
"All-powerful God, help us to proclaim the power of the Lord's resurrection. May we who accept this sign of the love Christ come to share the eternal life he reveals…" (Mass Prayer in Easter Season)
For St. Paul: "All I want to know is Christ Jesus and the power of his resurrection."
To know the power of Christ's resurrection is to be fully aware that Jesus Christ is alive right here and right now and that He is with us as He promised. This awareness drives us fear, doubts and mediocrity and helps us to live more fully as Jesus has promised. "I have come that you may have life and have it to the full."
