24/04/2011 - EASTER SUNDAY
1Reading Act 10,34.37-43 Psalm 117 2Reading Col 3,1-4 Gospel Jn 20,1-9
This night we celebrated the most important event: Jesus, rejected by men, and
condemned by them, is out from death that had swallowed. This event, death is no
longer our goal, is no longer a time we waited with terror, we now know that a new
life, no longer marked by the death, is possible. Jesus is alive! He has triumphed.
Christ is risen, and we who are His, we are certain that we shall rise with him.
We celebrated into the night because the Lord is risen in the night, we celebrated
with the lighting of fire and candle, for his resurrection illuminates the gloomy
darkness of man, we celebrated with water, because in the water we have died with
him and the water we are resurrected, we celebrated with the bread and wine because
he gave them to us as a constant memorial of this extraordinary event.
Mary Magdalene and then Peter and John run to the tomb of Jesus persuaded to find
his body, but ... Mary is convinced that it was stolen, while the two disciples
observing the details must realize that something extraordinary happened, of which
do not realize. To understand what had actually happened had to remember the scriptures.
These speak of a life over which death has no power, and it is the life of one who
is loved by God, in particular, his Messiah. We, like the two apostles, we remain
silent and be surprised by today's feast.
Easter is the light of our whole life. We can not live without this light. The Christian
every day recalls this when making the sign of the cross and when he thinks that
every Sunday is Sunday. Without the Christian Easter is not a Christian. The Christian
takes from the paschal mystery the consciousness and the awareness of himself as
a man of God who lives in the world, and therefore receives from the same mystery
the strength to forgive, that power that is necessary every day, and more the strength
to live without being deceived by material things, to look at others with a look
that overflows love. Easter for the Christian is everything: it is hope, it is the
certainty of an eternal life, it is light for today, it is fire that warms and renews.
Easter for the Christian is joy: Christ is risen! Jesus destroyed by laughter, envy
and hatred of men is risen. He is the only one to be resurrected, and therefore
all owe him everything. The Christian who suffer for their faith, the Christian
derided in various settings where he lives, the Christian hated for his faith and
for his inexplicable love and commitment, this Christian joy is due to Easter. Jesus
is risen. Do not forget it now or never. Remember when you suffer when you're alone
and you feel abandoned by everyone , when one falls sick to be felt diseases: Jesus
is risen!
The light of Easter be with you always throughout the year. Each week Live your
Passover, the Passover of Jesus, live in communion with the whole Church, to transmit
hope and confidence to the whole world.