THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER
April 18, 2021
Jesus’ appearance to His disciples is designed to remove any doubt about His resurrection. It is the same Jesus who went to the cross, but a Lord who is now no longer bound by space and time. The disciples at first are startled and terrified, alarmed and doubting , incredulous and wondering, but finally realize that it is indeed the risen Jesus’.
Jesus began His public ministry filled with the power of the Spirit, and the disciples will shortly receive that same power. Jesus will no longer walk by their side, rather he will remain with them only through the Spirit. Jesus’ Ascension into heaven marks the end of His appearing visibly to His followers.
Today, you and I are the disciples of Jesus. You and I have been called to grow in our personal relationship with Him. He is with us in the same way He was with His disciples in the first century. He is present to us through the Holy Spirit.
We have received the Holy Spirit in the Sacrament of Baptism, and more fully, in the Sacrament of Confirmation. We also receive the Holy Spirit every time we receive Holy Communion. It is through these three encounters with Jesus that the Holy Spirit lives within us. In a very real way, we are the Temples of the Holy Spirit. We are the dwelling place of the Spirit of God.
This world needs the presence of Jesus. This world needs the Holy Spirit which we are called to bring to it by the way we live and by how we deal with other people. The darkness of everyday life needs the light of Christ, which we have been called to bring to it.
Following Jesus is not a job from which we retire at a certain age, or after a certain number of years of service. Discipleship is a life-long process of change, as Jesus leads us through different stages and phases of life, calling us to walk with Him through new terrain. We follow Him throughout our life to the New Jerusalem, which is Heaven.
God Bless,
Msgr. Powell
Click here to view the live stream for the Second Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday)
Saturday, April 10th @ 5:30 PM
Playlist of all Holy Week live streams available here
REMEMBER TO KEEP HOLY THE LORD’S DAY.
KEEP THE SABBATH.
WORSHIP GOD FOR YOUR OWN SAKE.
Daily Mass from EWTN
