The last two Sundays, and at Easter, we proclaimed the great Alleluia of the Lord’s resurrection. Today, the fourth Sunday of Eastertide, we continue to read the post-Easter message from the Acts of the Apostles and the Evangelists. The readings continue the testimony of the power of the resurrection and its effects in the life of the believers.
In the first reading from Acts 13:14, 43-52, we read the story of the mission of Paul and Barnabas in Antioch in Pisidia. On its part, the Gospel presents us with a message of hope and assurance. As a good shepherd, Jesus guards his sheep against danger. Through the Father, He assures us all of safety so long as we belong to Him and listen to His voice. The assurance is so loud: “No one can take them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand.”
The Uncertainties of Our Life
The Easter message has more meaning, particularly in this period of our times. For almost two and a half years, we were invaded by a deadly pandemic. Beaten down, menaced, harassed, and almost destroyed. One of the realities it brought with it is our vulnerability and nothingness. Most of all, our basic human facilities, namely, fraternity and social life were cut off, even among relations. This Easter, depending on the region, but mostly, we were coming back to normalcy to celebrate with family, friends, and the community of the church. But the news of war, violence, exclusion, displacement, and migration, all dampen our hope for a greater and better future and question our Alleluia and the exclamation of the Easter joy. What meaning does it make to proclaim Christ’s victory over death when our neighbours face death every minute?
Some expressed their confusion and doubts: Should we rejoice when some human beings somewhere are in the heat of war, suffering, hungry, fearful, and fleeing from their homeland? Not only in Ukraine, but in different parts of the world today, exclusion, violence and persecution threaten the life of Christians. What do all these our human conditions say to us as we proclaim the Easter message? Does the risen Lord not see these obstacles that burden our hearts?
As I said earlier, the Easter message makes more meaning even in our present situation. This meaning among others is that we can proclaim the Lord’s triumph over evil and death even in our helplessness. Easter is about our faith that Christ has triumphed over that which oppresses us, thus, bringing us peace. Remember, the Easter celebration is a commemoration of an already fulfilled event – salvation. This is the message we are to believe and proclaim, namely, never to surrender to the power of evil but to stand firm in faith, hope and love.
Endurance in Faith, Hope and Love
In the first reading again, Paul and Barnabas remained faithful to the message of Christ in the face of persecution. They were not deterred in their faith and determination to continue the spread of the good news of the resurrection. The more they and the message were persecuted, the more their convictions were renewed. They proclaimed the events of the resurrection to the people and strengthened them in faith.
This effort to hold firm to and proclaim the message of hope sustains us in our uncertainties. Not because we have no alternatives, but because we are convinced that Christ has set us free and has triumphed over evil and death. But we must hold firm to the goodness since evil grows stronger when our faith becomes weak and insincere. If we die with Christ, then we shall reign with him. In our celebration of Easter, we are assured of God’s love that endures forever and that love is stronger than evil. This is our Easter song.
