The Season of Easter (b)
Paschal Tide. (B)
Sunday 15th April: 2nd Sunday of Easter. (B)
We know how discouraged and passive the apostles and disciples of the Lord were when Jesus had died on the cross. When they realised that he had risen, they knew he was alive and present among them. Their faith in the risen Lord made them one in heart and soul, prompting them to care for another and support one another. What about us in our time and place?
The first reading, from the Acts of the Apostles, gives us a picture of the practical way in which the first Christians lived as a community.
The second reading, from the first letter ofSt. John, reminds us that Christians are all children of God and should show their love for God by keeping the commandments.
In the passage fromSt. John’s Gospel, we reminded how Thomas’ doubt was turned into faith by touching the wounds of Jesus.
Monday 16th April: Monday in the second week of Easter.
Nicodemus, the sincere but cautious intellectual, comes to Jesus at night. He is afraid to show openly that he is a follower of Christ. The apostles and the early Christian community are persecuted. They also are afraid and pray for courage. Do we dare to stand up in our time and place and openly profess our faith by word and by example? Are we timid or bold in the living of our faith?
Tuesday 17th April: Tuesday in the second week of Easter.
We know from disappointing experiences in our own lives how difficult it can be to be a real community. We are different people, with different personalities, ideas attitudes and potential. The great obstacle is ourselves. We want people to go our way. We impose our own views. In our Christian communities, there is one who can unite us in himself. It is Jesus, our model and Our Lord. We believe that we come together here in his name and for his sake. He is alive and present among us. He brings us together in one faith and one love. It is a lifelong task. Can we really be one heart and one soul in him?
Wednesday 18th April: Wednesday in the second week of Easter.
God sent his only Son into the world to save us. We might think we no longer need salvation. We have become so self-sufficient and proud of our human achievements that we often think that salvation belongs to another world – not ours. When we sit and really reflect we have to face deeper realities. Are we really happy? Have we made the world a better place in which to live? We realise that we cannot do it alone. So we become grateful for Jesus, God’s son, who is with us and who can still get us out of the mess we are often making.
Thursday 19th April: Thursday in the second week of Easter.
The core of our faith is that we owe a new life to Jesus in whom we are reborn. The Spirit, who is given to us without measure or restriction, should therefore prompt us to bear witness to Jesus and to his new life in us.
Friday 20th April: Friday in the second week of Easter.
A sign worked by Jesus and told in much detail by all the evangelists is the multiplication of the bread. In all the Gospels, it is a sign of Jesus’ sharing himself and more so a figure of Jesus continuing self-gift in the Eucharist. It is Jesus’ total self-giving on the cross – the sacrifice ofCalvary.
Saturday 21st April: Saturday in the second week of Easter.
The apostles were looking for disciples to serve the material needs of the people. They are to be servants, filled with the Spirit of wisdom, who would see the needs and be just and fair in distributing the food and the help needed. The apostles set Stephen and his companions aside for this work.
The reading also reminds us that the first duty of the Church is the proclamation of the Gospel, the Good News. We are reminded that this Good News tells us that Jesus is always with his Church, in all time and in all places.
Alleluia, alleluia
He is risen as he said
Alleluia.
