Saturday, April 23, 2011
EASTER SUNDAY - A
EASTER SUNDAY - A
Acts 10:34, 37-43 / Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23 / Col 3:1-4 or 1 Cor
5:6-8 / Jn 20:1-9
ACTS 10:34, 37-43
Peter spoke to the people, "Truly, I realize that God does not show
partiality. No doubt you have heard of the event that occurred
throughout the whole country of the Jews, beginning from Galilee,
after the baptism John preached. You know how God anointed Jesus the
Nazarean with Holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good and
healing all who were under the devil's power, because God was with
him; we are witnesses of all that he did throughout the country of the
Jews and in Jerusalem itself. Yet they put him to death by hanging him
on a wooden cross. But God raised him to life on the third day and let
him manifest himself, not to all the people, but to the witnesses that
were chosen beforehand by God—to us who ate and drank with him after
his resurrection from death. And he commanded us to preach to the
people and to bear witness that he is the one appointed by God to
judge the living and the dead. All the prophets say of him, that
everyone who believes in him has forgiveness of sins through his
Name."
COLOSSIANS 3:1-4
Sisters and brothers, if you are risen with Christ, seek the things
that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set
your mind on the things that are above, not on earthly things. For you
have died and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ,
who is your life, reveals himself, you also will be revealed with him
in Glory.
JOHN 20:1-9
On the first day after the sabbath, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb
early in the morning, while it was still dark and she saw that the
stone blocking the tomb had been moved away. She ran to Peter and the
other disciple whom Jesus loved. And she said to them, "They have
taken the Lord out of the tomb and we don't know where they have laid
him." Peter then set out with the other disciple to go to the tomb.
They ran together but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the
tomb first. He bent down and saw the linen cloths lying flat, but he
did not enter. Then Simon Peter came following him and entered the
tomb; he, too, saw the linen cloths lying flat. The napkin, which had
been around his head was not lying flat like the other linen cloths
but lay rolled up in its place. Then the other disciple who had
reached the tomb first also went in; he saw and believed. Scripture
clearly said that he must rise from the dead, but they had not yet
understood that.
REFLECTION
Two stories of hope are indeed timely during the great season of
Easter.
There is this person who has suffered a massive stroke. To complicate
matters, he is diabetic and has pneumonia. Added to these conditions
is the swelling of his brain, thus the doctors predict that at most
this person will last only 48 hours. Operation is an option but the
prognosis is 80% mortality rate and 20% becoming a vegetable. Faced
with expected exorbitant hospital bills, what can the family do? Then
somebody suggested that he be given the anointing of the sick even
though it is past midnight. Fortunately, the priest obliges. After two
hours, the patient becomes a little conscious and requests for writing
materials. Through writing, he expresses his love for his family.
Another CT Scan and more tests reveal that the swelling of the brain
is still there but clinically, the patient is improving. With this
mystery, the family and the doctors could simply cite the miraculous
powers of the Sacrament.
The other story is about a prisoner who is ready to be released. He
has been jailed for estafa and illegal recruitment. He was in prison
for a little over three years, and now he is all set to assume his
family responsibilities. Of course, there is fear, yet he is also
hopeful that people will give him a chance when he will seek
employment in order to support his family.
These are all accounts of hope. After the passion and death of Jesus,
his Father ends his story with a ray of hope. A good man in the person
of Jesus was executed due to his lifestyle of doing good which was not
acceptable to those in authority and power. He had to suffer, be badly
beaten and crucified, but in the end, he is vindicated. Death is
finally conquered and new life comes. Jesus seemed to have been
defeated by death but he was raised from the dead.
In his encyclical entitled "Spe Salvi" (On Christian Hope), His
Holiness Pope Benedict XVI underscores the theme: Man needs God,
otherwise he remains without hope. He develops this idea in relation
to the great solemnity of Easter:
There is criticism of contemporary Christianity in that it has largely
limited its attention to individual salvation instead of the wider
world and thus, reduced the "horizon of its hope." It is important to
remember that as Christians, we are not to limit ourselves in raising
the question about how I can save myself. We are to be concerned with
others by thinking of ways in order that others may also be saved. In
these past days of the Triduum recollection, what has been underscored
is the notion of communion. Such communion can only be seen and
experienced in the love, concern and unit y of the faithful. This, in
turn, can only be achieved if there is compassion, empathy, and
genuine concern for the welfare of the common good.
Why is it then important to hope? It is for the simple reason, that no
matter how perplexed and confused we are, we are to hang on to the
promise of Jesus who remains alive. Upon seeing the tomb, the other
disciple simply believed. When we find ourselves in situations where
there are competing voices for the truth, we are not to lose hope. It
will still be a long and arduous battle as we aspire for the truth and
justice but rest assured that victory will surely come. This is the
Easter message of hope.
PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Leah Magcamit and Ginny Belardo
- Wendy
… for the personal intentions of: Dali Sotelo and her husband
… In Memoriam: Fr. Santiago Leon, SJ
… for the eternal repose of the souls of
- Catalina S. de Leon
- Vern Burdick
Eternal rest grant unto them and may perpetual light shine upon them.
May they and all the dearly departed rest in peace.
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Divine Lopez
- Birthday: Dina Obregon
- Birthday: Evelyn Co Yu
- Birthday: Roberto M. Cordon II
- Birthday: Lilian van der Engh
- Thanksgiving: Castillo Family
- In Memoriam (+): Thomas O'Gorman, Sr
- In Memoriam (+): Luisa V. Bulaong
… for world peace and reconciliation.
Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers
and for those who need our prayers the most.
Have a good day!
**************************************************
These reflections are distributed free and are for personal use only.
Feel free to send the Daily Prayer reflections to your friends,
colleagues and relatives; however, if you do, please include the
following:
+================================================+
| The Daily Prayer, a service and an apostolate of the
| priests, laity and friends of Mary the Queen Parish
| http://www.marythequeen.org
| Distributed free and for personal use only.
+================================================+
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GoogleGroup Address: http://groups.google.com/group/daily_homily
To subscribe from this free mailing service, send email to: dailyhomily@earthlink.net
To unsubscribe: daily_homily-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
© 2011 Daily-Homily
