Set the Lord before You April 9

by Beth De Cristofaro

God raised this Jesus; of this we are all witnesses. (Acts 2:32)

You will show me the path to life, fullness of joys in your presence, the delights at your right hand forever. (Ps 16:11)

Piety

Jesus, we have prayed your Passion and Resurrection. My failures I now release to you. Help me as you helped Mary, Mary Magdalene, Peter and Paul, to proclaim your promise and life to the world through my prayer, study and actions. I trust in the Spirit to guide and sustain me. I trust in you to open my tomb and release me to fullness of joys in your presence.

Study

http://www.usccb.org/nab/040907.shtml

Today is a day for rejoicing. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce the news to his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage. (Mtt: 28: 8-9) Who has not had a dream of a departed loved one which left a sense of happiness and peace upon awakening? Or who has had a sudden, unexpected memory of a deceased person which filled us with a bittersweet longing and sense of closeness to our cherished one?

This is a mere taste of what the Marys experienced because their encounter with Jesus was real. Their dear, departed one was no longer departed but awesome, alive. And He remains alive today. We can turn from the tombs in our lives and encounter his loving presence on our path. We can carry our own crosses knowing he not only carries it with us, but lifts it in joy through His resurrection. We can choose the fullness of His risen promise over the emptiness that the material world gives.

Do we? Do we place our trust in the One who is Alive so that we can live forever? Can we trust in the life-fulfilling strength of the Spirit whom He offered to us? Jesus died in freedom and gave us freedom.

Peter’s exhortation in Acts is the first example of kerygma or “proclamation” of what he and Jesus’ disciples witnessed. This proclamation is now ours: God raised (Jesus) up, releasing him from the throes of death, because it was impossible for him to be held by it. (Acts: 2:24) Now, death no longer holds us either. We can choose freedom and choose life because Jesus gave us freedom and life.

Action

Thank God for being Alive and rejuvenated today. Let yourself feel the joy which the Marys felt at seeing their beloved live again. How can you reach out to rejuvenate someone else?