EASTER SUNDAY, YR A
Acts 10:34,37-43; Psalm 118
Colossians 3:1-4; John 20:1-9
RISEN WITH CHRIST TO NEW LIFE
After the penitential season of Lent, we enter into the glorious season of Easter. Easter is a feast and a season of grace, victory, new birth and newness. In the letter to the Colossians Paul presents the reality of our new life in Christ and to exults them in the gospel of grace which they have heard from brother Epaphras, who probably was the founder of this community.
In this letter Paul speaks about the nature of Jesus in the first two chapters. It’s as if he is answering the question, who is Jesus? He is the image of the invincible God, He is preeminent, the source of all creation, the head of the body, among others. In the second chapter, he warns them about false teaching that have crept into the church. He admonished then to “see to it that no one takes them captive through hallow and deceptive philosophy”. He then goes on to tell them about the new life of the Christian. Who they have become in Christ Jesus and what they should do
In the first verse of chapter 3, he said we have been raised with Christ. This in fact is a reference to baptism. In 2:12, Paul noted that through baptism we have been raised to new life in Jesus Christ. In baptism there is a sort of dying and rising: there is a dying to our old selves of sin and selfishness and greed and carelessness to a new life which is lived for the Lord and him alone. In baptism, the seed of the resurrection is planted so that we live towards the fullest union with the Lord the end when he comes to take us to be with him in heaven. This new life sets new rules for our engagement with ourselves and the world. That is why we would seem to struggle now with ourselves and choices, because we would always have to make choices that are pleasing to the Lord and not us. Whenever you find yourself as the crossroads of making a choice, the struggle, the pain and the courage in choosing for Jesus is a sign of growth.
In baptism, we do not only die and rise with Christ, but our lives are hidden in him. The hiddenness of our lives in Jesus means that God forgives us our sins. For the sake of the sorrowful death and glorious resurrection of Jesus, the devil has nothing to leverage on any longer. God showers us with mercy through Christ Jesus. That is why we continue to pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy imploring God’s mercy. Hidden in Christ Jesus, God lets go of our past and gives us the opportunity to start anew.
Paul noted that we who have been baptized, will appear in glory. This is indicative of the eschatological dimension of baptism. Baptism is not only an encounter with the risen Christ it is also promise of an inheritance of Heaven with Jesus. We too shall be where Christ is now. Through baptism we are set aside for the Lord and at the end of time, we shall be saved into his divine presence forever. Every action we take therefore has eternal consequences. Be careful what you do, so that you do not miss the glory that awaits us all.
After he revealed who we have become, he deals with what we should do: we must set out minds on things that are above or seek things that are above. It is a call to think and form our opinions in a certain way; we are now to judge things by the higher standard of God. Our thoughts must be on holy things, on things that are godly and spiritual.
We are driven by the newness we have experienced in the resurrection. The resurrection brings new dimension to our lives and the power that raised Jesus from the dead changes us also forever.
May we be empowered to live out as a resurrected people. May we live for God and him alone even when the world persecutes us.
Christ is risen alleluia!!!
God bless you.
BY Rev. Delight Arnold Carbonu
