Sunday, March 31, 2024 – Easter Sunday The Resurrection of the Lord The Mass of Easter Day - Cycle B Readings: Acts 10:34a, 37-43, Psalm 118 “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad”, Colossians 3:1-4, John 20:1-9

                         CHRISTIANS ARE PEOPLE OF HOPE
 
     Brothers and Sisters: We have already heard the good news. In fact, we have heard the best news: "Christ is alive! He is risen and has appeared to his disciples." Happy Easter to all of you! The sorrow that filled our heart at the Passion and death of Christ gives way to the unrestrained joy that his Resurrection brings.
 
1. It's not easy to believe in Jesus' Resurrection. The disciples had to experience the dark night of the soul after Good Friday. Together with the trauma of Jesus' violent death, they suffered because of the silence of so many unknown elements. So what would happen now? We can understand their anguish if we compare it to what we feel when we are waiting for someone who doesn't show up. They tell us that mom is coming on a trip, but she doesn't arrive when we expect her to. What could have happened? Our soul gets worried, and all sorts of images pass before our eyes. That's what the disciples were like, with a knot in their stomach.
 
The resurrected Jesus appears to Peter, to Mary Magdalene, and to Thomas, precisely to these three because they were doubting. They were more dead than alive. And he appears to the disciples of Emmaus because they had already lost hope. To all of them he brings new reasons to live.
 
2. Christ's Resurrection changed the world. Death was defeated when Christ accepted death; pain and suffering were conquered when Christ freely chose to suffer; sin was destroyed when Christ bore it on his shoulders. This is all true, even though death, suffering and sin still continue by our side. But they are no longer unable to be overcome.
 
We must be men of hope. We can't walk through the world always predicting calamities; we must persevere in solid optimism, tested in love and in death, a realistic optimism that is also full of good humor. There is a new Beatitude intended for us: "Blessed are those who have not seen, yet still believe."
 
3. Every Sunday is a little Easter that becomes a reality in the Eucharist. It's as if the day arrives when I can go to the bank of mercy and cash in the check of life, joy and pardon that Christ gave me two thousand years ago on the day of his Resurrection. It's not written out to "the bearer"; it's written to my name, and no one else can cash it for me. Tomorrow could be too late. It's an invitation for us to live "like resurrected souls."
 
St. Paul invites us to "look for the things above, and not those of the world." Make a practical resolution: spend some time reading the Gospel narrative of everything that took place after the Resurrection. It will fill you with joy and peace. And how much do we need them after hearing all the bad news about catastrophes, death and abuse on the radio or on TV. Let us rather fill ourselves with good news that is a sign of God's presence.
                                                    Let us be men of hope!