Dear Friends,
The joy of Easter and the Resurrection continue to overflow in our readings this weekend, the Third Sunday of Easter. It will be this way until Pentecost. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the event, the message of the Apostles’ preaching, the reason for the Church. We become members of the Church, the Mystical Body of Christ, through our baptism into His death and resurrection. The Holy Spirit comes to us so that we also may be Jesus’ witnesses, sharers of His resurrection to all.
Ever since the Lord rose, many have tried to ignore or to tame the awesome life-altering significance of the Resurrection. The guards were paid off to say that His body was stolen by His disciples. People focused on this material world, may make light of this fact, or try to explain it away saying that it is a symbol or an invention to begin a church. But no one dies, gives one’s own life, as so many martyrs have, for a symbol or an invention. The Apostles and others saw Jesus alive, risen after death. That changed them and changed all human history. Allow the Resurrection to change you.
In every age, the challenges of life including our worries, fears, and anxieties along with the darkness of sin (ours and others) rise up to confront our faith, our hope, even our love. It is easy to lose focus, to begin to wonder, to question. But that is where Easter comes in. Christ is the Victor over all the powers of darkness, evil and even death. We are sharers in that victory, here and now, as we make our way towards eternity. Jesus is at our side and gives us His grace. May we, like the Apostles in our first reading this weekend, realize that to suffer dishonor in this world for the sake of Jesus’ name, is a cause to rejoice.
Peter denied the Lord three times. In our Gospel, three times Peter affirms his love to the Lord. When we sin, we deny our Lord; every time we approach Jesus in confession, we affirm our love to Him and He forgiveness, heals, and strengths us. With Peter, let us confirm anew our self-surrender: “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
God bless you, God love you,
Monsignor McCulken
