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2nd Sunday of Easter, Year A

As we read the gospel texts, different words can draw our attention.
At one time, we may be struck by a sentence, or a certain parable.
At another time, the description of a miracle, or the narrative of Jesus meeting with someone, may capture our imagination.

On this 2nd Sunday of Easter (Year A) the text from John’s gospel is quite long (Jn.20:19-31) and what struck me comes near the very end of the reading.
The words that retained my attention may not seem the essential part of the message.
They may not appear to be so important after all…
Still, I linger on them… I ponder them… and I remain with what they say.

“There were many other signs that Jesus worked and the disciples saw,
But they are not recorded in this book.
These are recorded so that you may believe.”

In fact, that is the very reason why Jesus did all that he did: to draw us into a close relationship with him.
A relationship of FAITH – a faith that is trust, reliance on him, acceptance of his message, of his person and of all that he has to give us.
The next sentence of the text completes the message:
 
“And that believing you may have life.”
 
Life now, life later… for ever – this is the meaning of the Resurrection of Jesus, the promise of our own…

Source: Image: The Gospel of Coalition Blog

Easter Sunday, C

time-is-god-coming-back-to-life_friedrich-nietzscheTime-is-god-dead-Friedrich_Nietzsche, redone“God is dead” – the idea has been proclaimed already in 1882 by the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche.

In fact, this statement could have been voiced – in all truth – on the first ‘Good Friday’, on that day when Jesus was crucified and died on the cross. In Jesus, God-made-man, had died as all human beings do.
And some 40 hours or so later, someone could have proclaimed – again in all truth: GOD IS ALIVE – for this is what Jesus’ resurrection is about!

The simple, astonishing, amazing, staggering truth that GOD IS ALIVE in our midst – this is what we celebrate at Easter.
Who can believe this? Precisely, only those who have… faith.

No miracle is convincing enough for anyone who is not ready to accept this.crosswalk.com
No sign is obvious enough for anyone who does not want to see.
No proof is satisfactory for anyone who wants to entertain doubts.
No argument is conclusive enough for anyone who is not ready to make the leap… of faith!

You ask: Is it not irrational? The Corinthians thought so and were told: “God’s foolishness is wiser that human wisdom” (1 Cor.1:25).
You wonder: Is it not childish? Long ago, we have been reminded: “Unless you become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Mt.18:3).

The texts telling us of the resurrection of Jesus can remain stories relating some event that happened in the past and… belongs there!
Or, they can provide us with the moment that becomes ‘a point of no return’ – the decision of committing ourselves to Him who opens up to us a life beyond all we could dream of, or hope for…

Source: Images: www.age-of-the-sage.org         crosswalk.com