Leaders and those in authority regularly take to the podium in this time of pandemic to tell citizens about the latest directives concerning the distribution of vaccines and the imposition and lifting of restrictions about travel, lifestyle, family visits etc. Citizens continue to ask questions, \u2018What can we do?\u2019 \u2018What will happen my business, my job, my mortgage, my family?\u2019 In the midst of all, the world knows there are many transitions taking place in life at every level. This is daunting for some, but we trust that all will be well. Meanwhile, we listen carefully to the authorities and maintain social distance, hand hygiene etc.<\/p>\n
It is the season of Easter, one of hope, celebration and joy. Jesus died and rose to new life. Without Good Friday, there would be no Easter eggs!<\/p>\n
The reading today (Acts 2:36-41) for Mass proclaims Peter\u2019s address to the crowd. This is the first proclamation of Jesus\u2019 resurrection. Peter spoke on behalf of the Twelve as he addressed \u2018fellow Jews and all foreigners staying in Jerusalem.\u2019 He appeals to them to listen to what he has to say. He speaks to them about Jesus of Nazareth, telling them they \u2018must know for sure that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ.\u2019<\/p>\n
Of course, the people \u2018were cut to the heart\u2019 at what Peter and the apostles said. \u00a0On hearing it they asked, \u2018What must we do?\u2019 Peter told them to repent and be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for \u2018the forgiveness of your sins.\u2019 Then, he said they would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Peter continued to give the message and appealed to them to save themselves. Many people responded positively, accepted the teaching and were baptised. Three-thousand new people joined the community that day.<\/p>\n
Today, disciples commit to Jesus by opening their hearts to the message of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. The good news is that Jesus Christ is alive. Pope Francis encourages everyone to renew his or her encounter with Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n
John\u2019s account of the Gospel (Jn 20:11-18) proclaims Mary of Magdala standing outside the tomb on Easter Sunday morning. She cried as she bent down to look inside the tomb. It was empty except for two angels sitting where \u2018the body of Jesus had been\u2019 laid, one at the head and the other at his feet. They asked Mary why she was weeping and she told them they had taken the body of her Lord away and she did not know where they put it. As she spoke to the angels, she turned around and she saw Jesus standing there. She did not recognise him. He asked her why she was crying and whom she was looking for. Then he called her name, \u2018Mary\u2019 and she recognised Jesus. She said \u2018Rabbuni\u2019, which means Master. He told her not to cling to him, indicating to Mary that there was now a change in their relationship.\u00a0 Jesus told her \u2018to go and find the brothers and tell them that he \u2018was now ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.\u2019 Mary went and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord and told them the things he said to her. Mary was the apostle to the apostles.<\/p>\n
From now on, the disciples related to Jesus as Lord. The characteristic of the new relationship of calling Jesus Lord meant that they related to him in faith. Jesus is now one with God.<\/p>\n
Like the first disciples, we get to know Jesus through the dim light of faith in times of sorrow and joy, day by day. Disciples grow in thier understanding of what Jesus means when he says \u2018happy are those who do not see and yet believe.\u2019<\/p>\n
The accounts of the resurrection are available online for each of the class standards of the Grow in Love\/I nGr\u00e1 D\u00e9<\/em> programme. Access to the online resources on the theme of Easter, including the Grow in Love \/I nGr\u00e1 D\u00e9<\/em> e-books are available on the VERITAS Grow in Love<\/em> website.<\/p>\n Website: growinlove.ie<\/p>\n