Fresh Dew Media

 EASTER SUNDAY: REFLECTION BY FR. JULIAN EKEH

THEME: REJOICE IN THE RESURRECTION POWER ALLELUIA

(John 20: 1-9)

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Indeed, all praise and honour, adoration, and thanksgiving be unto the Lord for the marvellous thing He has done for us. Today is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it, Alleluia. Amen.

The Alleluia that went on a leave is back again. The Church bids Christians all over the world and indeed all heavenly powers to rejoice because Christ the Lord is risen. Yes! He is the reason for our joy. His strong right hand has shattered the enemy. The Lord is His name.

 

WHY ARE WE REJOICING?

THE LOVE OF GOD IS BEYOND THE WILL AND POWER OF EVIL

The joy the Lord releases for us today is not optional. It is a compulsory one. It has always been the will of God down through the ages that we live in joy, gladness, happiness, peace, freedom, and good relationships with Him and our fellow human beings. That's why He made man and placed him in the Paradise called Eden.

But this desire of God is not a welcomed idea for the devil, the enemy of our peace. He was not happy at the beautiful rapport that existed between God and Man. He was not comfortable with the position man occupied and the attention, care, and love God lavished on man. Imagine the routine visits of God to Adam and Eve, think of the loud laughter of the fortunate duo in conversation with God, and think of the state of sinlessness and innocence man enjoyed. Consider the angelic ministrations man savoured. Reflect on the state of man not labouring to eat. All these did not go down well with the evil one, and he visited Eve with a smile and wisdom that was deceptive. And evil was introduced into the human family. Man lost his place. The privilege and free access to God were denied him. The devil followed man on even into the family of Israel and Joseph, who was to be the joy of the family was sold. That was not enough. He followed him down to Egypt with temptations and imprisonment, but God started making plans of salvation. The wicked one came again through the Pharaoh that knew not Joseph. God led His people out and resettled them. But they were still under the grip of the devil. Hence, the need to save man totally from the devil.

Only the Son of God will pay the price. And the greatest price of the life of God was used. When the enemy saw this Son as Man, he fought Him tirelessly, and He died. That was the holy sacrifice. But He rose on the third day. Amen. For this, we are most joyful. For this, we must rejoice. We have regained the friendship of God we lost in Adam. We have the angels once again at our beck and call. We are no longer slaves. We are no longer captives.  The grave has been thrown open, and darkness has been destroyed. O yes, the darkness of betrayal, of condemnation, of bearing the Cross, etc. All these have given way. The paschal lamb has given light to the world. May we, therefore, let this light of joy, peace, goodness, and reconciliation shine on.

 

OUR FEARS ARE GONE

In Gethsemane, Christ feared and prayed. He feared losing to weakness and wickedness, to flesh and to the world even though His spirit was willing. On the cross, Christ prayed: Eloi, Eloi...with the feeling and fear of being abandoned.

In the Gospel today, the women feared that Jesus may have been taken away. In another version, they feared who would roll away the stone for them. But God has the final answer to our fears. In our fears, we must trust. God will never disappoint us. He is faithful to His word. He foretold that Christ would rise on the third day. And today He's alive. He is risen.

You too shall rise. Have you been crushed? have you been brought low? are you suffering persecutions? Are you about to give up in fear? The Lord raise His Son, He will raise you. Let that be your joy as you move on.

 

THEY'RE IN THE PAST

Rejoice Child of God today because of Jesus for all He suffered are now in the past. He will never die again. He lives forever. Alleluia.

Most of the things you pass through now will someday be in the past.  Your struggles will be in the past when you work with the power of the resurrection. It is a power that gives hope and courage to forge ahead.

Jesus had this power and moved on. Today, we may ask: Where is the betrayal of Judas? Where is Peter's denial? Where are the soldiers' insults? Where is Pilate's unfair judgement? Where are all these and many more? They are in the past now.

What are your present challenges? With God, they will be in the past. Don't fail to ride on believing that God will make them pass away in due time. On your own third day, look back and thank God. Look back and thank God for all you've been through.

Christ conquered death. You will conquer also.

 

MEDITATE

What is possibly going to make you not fully feel the resurrection power in your life?

Who has taken away your Lord? Does it touch you that you're not in good standing with God even after His death and resurrection?

Can you be like Peter and begin to run for the course of Christ even after your many denials?

Start today to live happy and make things of God your source of joy.

May the joy of the Lord be your strength as you journey with the resurrected Christ. May no one steal your joy and peace. May the power of the resurrection empower you in all you do.

May God bless His word in our hearts.

 

LET US PRAY

Thank You, Lord, for giving us the grace to celebrate this great day of joy after contemplating your Passion. May we continue to savour the joy of your resurrection and rise from darkness, from sin from fears and from pains and sorrows into the glory your resurrection power promises us now and forever. Amen

 

HAPPY EASTER TO YOU (YR C)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh