A Call To New Life

A Message of Hope
Reflection Date: April 20, 2025 - Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord
Author: Fr. Ignatius Britto, SJ
Daily Reading: Acts10:34a, 37-43, Colossions3:1-4, John20:1-9

“We are the Easter people and our song is Alleluia!” says St. Augustine. Easter is an experience of the joy of life. “I have seen the Lord!” is the joyful proclamation of Mary Magdalene, the first witness to the resurrection of the Lord. Easter is a celebration of victory over death, a definite victory over evil.

The preface to the Eucharistic prayer rightly affirms, “By dying He destroyed death; by rising He restored our life.” This is the central message of Easter. Therefore, our way of thinking changes; our activities find new meaning; our day-to-day experiences bring hope and confidence to face the future with optimism; our relationships become stronger; our miseries and misfortunes are remedied; peace and joy are restored!

The life that Jesus lives now is not our life, not the human existence, but He has taken a new life upon Himself. It is a new creation, and we are called to live this resurrected life. This demands that we must roll away the tombstones of our ego, our selfishness, and pride. Then, we can rise to be with Him who is alive now and forever. This challenges us to prepare ourselves with a renewed spirit to move forward by putting on the mind of Christ. In other words, it calls us to walk in the newness of life, to see the world crucifixionally, to see the world as a place in which the crucifixion of Jesus goes on today, tomorrow, and every day! It invites us to move out and participate in the continuing crucifixion in every nook and corner of the world.

A few years ago, a WhatsApp video contained a brutal and horrifying portrayal of the persecution of four Africans by their own kith and kin for accepting Jesus into their lives. One could hear the song in the background, “I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back!” Persecutions will continue, but we are called to be witnesses of the resurrection. Wherever the resurrected person goes, his/her presence is hurtful to the worldly person. It is like rubbing salt on a wound! Yet, let us go beyond despair, disbelief, and doubt.

Our encounter with Christianity did not begin with the Annunciation; it began with the Resurrection. Resurrection is NOT just a fact of history; it is an experience!

Call To Action:

• Do you have the strength to face struggles and trials with faith in the Risen Lord?
• Do you allow the joy of the Resurrection to overflow into your witnessing life?
• Take some tangible steps to share the joy of the Risen Lord with others.