Gospel for April 4 2021 – Mark 16:1-7
Gospel Reflections for April 4 2021: Easter Sunday
Jesus re-enters the world!
Easter celebrates our central Catholic event.
Easter describes the sudden resurrection of Jesus from the dead in one glorious moment on that Sunday morning. After His terrible crucifixion on the cross on Good Friday and burial in a tomb guarded by soldiers, Jesus bursts out of that tomb on Easter and boldly re-enters the world. What a glorious event!
Perhaps you have felt somewhat “entombed” this last year as well, at times forced to “Stay-at-Home” or follow severe restrictions whenever outside. Perhaps you felt real fear and isolation from a world-wide virus that seemed to be everywhere. Maybe now you can finally feel a sense of hope.
We celebrate this Easter at a time when the world is slowly coming out of its long isolation. The large number of people with immunity either from already having the virus or the vaccination means the world is safer now for you to emerge into it.
There is a difference from Our Lord emerging from the tomb on Easter to your emerging into a safer world. Jesus re-entered a world that was not safe at all.
The world was not safe for Him when He arrived at Christmas and no more safe after His resurrection. Yet nothing would stop Our Lord from being with the people He loves. His life was never about safety …but only about compassion and courage.
He felt compassion for people whose sinful behavior had left them profoundly unhappy and expressed His courage by coming into our life at Christmas and showing the way of love even if it meant His death on a cross. Not much safety there! Yet, His love for you cannot die, and so He was raised from the dead on that Easter Sunday.
His disciples were empowered by that same compassion and courage, and burst out of Jerusalem to enter the whole world, as dangerous as it was, to share this Good News. You and I have that same faith today because of that long line of faithful people that stretches back in time to those disciples.
I am glad that vaccinations and immunity are making our world safer again. I am also glad for the compassion and courage of Our Lord to reveal the way to lasting happiness, and the example of compassion and courage of so many in our history who lived that life well.
Let us ask for the grace to do the same, now more than ever.
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
As we enter this Holy Season We are reminded that there is more to life than News, Weather and Sports. The Resurection of Jesus Christ 2000 years ago bears so much significance on our lives today. May we all enjoy and partake of the Blessings of the Season and concentrate on the lessons learned from his life and times.
Happy Easter to the whole World and those occupying it.
Life ,Liberty and the Pursuit of Significance is a worthy path to follow to Eternal Salvation.
Well said. The Easter event is the greatest news story of all time. I like your paraphrase of the Declaration of Independence too.
Thank you, Father Dave, for your weekly insights. I always look forward to reading them and trying to apply them to my journey. Now, more than ever, we need to have and be examples of compassion and courage.
Happy and Blessed Easter to everyone.
Happy Easter! I am glad you enjoy these weekly articles.
Now more than ever. Happy Easter to all.
Yes, indeed! Now more than ever.
Dear Father Dave,
Your Easter reflection is thought provoking and helpful. Thank you.
Yes, compassion and courage….
May the risen Christ fill us.
Have a beautiful Easter.
Kathleen
Thank you! I wish for you a very blessed Easter!
Thank you Father Dave. Wishing you a blessed Easter
John McCarthy
Thank you! Have a very happy and blessed Easter!
Father Dave, A most Blessed, Joyous Easter to you overflowing with our precious Jesus’ Divine love!! Loveeeee our precious Faith for God so loveeeeeeeed us that He sent His Son to teach us to love, to die for us, to have new lifer in His Resurrection so we toooo may have life with Him and our God in Heaven!! Beautiful Jesus, beautiful faith! and its Ours!!! May all the world be overwhelmed with our Jesus’ LOVE!!
Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, franca and Dick
Happy Easter!