EASTER DAY
What would you say was the greatest day in history? Maybe for you it was when you got your exam results, when your brother or sister was born or when your team won the cup final. For all mankind the greatest day in history was in fact Easter Sunday, the day that Jesus rose from the dead. On that day Jesus gained for us the ability to enter into heaven and gave us the gift of everlasting life. Death was defeated, it was no longer the end for us. That day was the turning point for all people, even for those who had already died before the great event. Everyone who has ever lived or who will ever live could benefit from the events on that first Easter day
THE DAY OF RESURRECTION
In the Mass we celebrate the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Each day, at every hour of the day his death and resurrection are being re- presented to God in Catholic churches around the world. So in some way for Catholics each day is Easter day, the day of resurrection. Saint Ambrose speaking to newly baptised Christians reminded them that each time they receive the Eucharist the event of the resurrection is applied to their lives “Today Christ is yours, yet each day he rises again for you.”
SHARING OUR GIFTS
So let us celebrate each day as if it were the greatest day in history all over again. Jesus celebrated Easter day by giving us the greatest possible gift and we can celebrate the many blessings that we have received from God by sharing them with others. There are so many people who need our help, it may be something simple like a lonely neighbour who needs someone to talk to or some shopping done or it might be getting involved with national campaigns to help persecuted Christians in the Middle East or street children in South America. The possibilities are endless there are so many people in need around us and around the world.
TELL THE WORLD
There is also a spiritual hunger in many people, who don’t know about the great gift that Jesus offers us in his life, death and resurrection. The greatest day in history means nothing to them unless we tell them about it. Pope Francis said, “The message which Christians bring to the world is this: Jesus, Love incarnate, died on the cross for our sins, but God the Father raised him and made him the Lord of life and death. In Jesus, love has triumphed over hatred, mercy over sinfulness, goodness over evil, truth over falsehood, life over death.” This is the message that the world needs to hear and then we can all celebrate the greatest day in history.
Written By : June Palmer