April 13, 2020 - Alleluia, Encounter Him!

Easter continues for 8 days! That's right we get to celebrate with great joy, feasting and wonder at the amazing miracle of the Resurrection! Being on lockdown even helps us to better celebrate these days. We don't have to worry or bother with the usual distractions...no work...no school....no sports...nothing to hinder us from reflecting as a family of faith on this glorious event that ushers in our eternal salvation!

It took the apostles and disciples many days before they were fully aware of what truly took place - Jesus rose from the dead! For us too, we need this truth to settle deep within us. The Resurrection of Jesus is true, real and should inspire within us a great joy! Those first disciples move slowly to this joyfulness. First they are in disbelief, dumbfounded perhaps. They are also fearful...someone they saw be crucified and die...is now alive? It is unbelievable because it is beyond what we can do. It proves that Jesus is the Son of God, the Messiah, Our Savior and Lord! 

It is this truth that the first apostles and disciples realize that transforms their disbelief to belief and their fear to joy. We too, are to grow in our realization of this unbelievable truth. Our unbelief and doubt needs to be changed to belief. Our fear of suffering, sadness, and death needs to be changed to joy. Joy because we realize death is not final. Life wins! We too will rise again and live forever with Jesus. Even better we get to live this joy-filled life even now. 

These days of Easter, the Easter Octave, eight days in which we celebrate with great festivity the Resurrection of Jesus, are meant to deepen our realization that all who believe in Jesus and His Resurrection will also rise to new, eternal life after death. Spend time these 8 days reflecting on the Gospel accounts of the Resurrecton appearances. Journey with the apostles and disciples as they grow in greater understanding and realization of this great, awesome mystery.

The resurrected Lord wants to encounter us and reveal the truth of eternal life more vividly to each of us. He will. Let's let Him into our heart now by quiet prayer and reflection, and so prepare to meet Him more powerfully than ever when He comes again soon to encounter us in the Holy Eucharist.