Today, we are in the 3rd Sunday after Easter. Let us continue to be empowered by the risen Lord to glorify our loving God through good works and continuous rejoicing Easter people.
The epistle, from the first letter of Peter, reminds us of our personal calling to holiness, which is essential to be genuine witnesses of Christ participating in our mission. We too are reminded to take advantage of the abundant blessings and the necessity of obedience. Obedience is necessary to do good in order to persevere in our Christian life. Through our obedience, we are protected from anything that destroys our body and spirit. We must always recognize the Lord, who guides and illuminates us with His eternal light to show the path to moral uprightness, in both our personal and public lives, all for the good and glory of God. It is imperative that, as believers, we live lives that express inherent goodness of God’s children; therefore, we must live consistently faithful and willing to renew ourselves by the challenge of the Sacrament of Confession. To keep our conduct excellent is to live in complete obedience to Jesus’ teachings and words and to emulate His purity, kindness, mercy, and love.
In the gospel today Jesus uttered a puzzling statement when he said, “A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.” I would like to reflect on these words of Jesus so that we have a better understanding of His words.
First, Jesus repeats a portion of His thought maybe to put weight on something. His disciples struggle to comprehend what He was talking about. They wanted to ask Him what He meant, but Jesus doesn’t precisely answer their question. However, “a little while and you will not see Me,” refers to His impending death. These words were uttered by Jesus before His crucifixion. His words. “You will not see Me,” brought intense sorrow to the disciples for it provides details of what they will experience in the time ahead.
Second, Jesus is planning to surprise them, and He said, “Big things are coming for you in the days ahead.” What does this mean? It is true that the Jewish religious leaders are planning to eliminate Jesus who will be put to death because the power of darkness manifests through the betrayal of Judas. These religious leaders, Pharisees and Scribes walk and exist and ordered a state of enmity which exists against God through the rule of Satan.
Third, Jesus says, “Trust Me, when they come, you will be delighted beyond measure! But the world will rejoice.” This must be taken to mean that those who came against Christ would rejoice which has been the outcome thinking that they defeated Him. The wickedness permeates the world under Satan, and that evil prevails gaining control is another lie of Satan. However, Jesus Christ the Messiah. is the Light of the world, and He has the over-all and permanent control of everything that even darkness and sin won’t succeed. The Risen Christ‘s presence in our midst expresses in a new and profound way for us to rejoice forever.
St. Paul gives us encouraging words, “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Col 1:27) It is for us believers that we keep Christ’s promise and to remember what the resurrection of Jesus means to us. Without God, we have no purpose and God has never lost control. Rather, He is in complete control.
Our greatest desire and concern should not be to live to please the world, but to be pleasing before God and see how God sees. This is our goal and our mission.
God bless you.
Fr. Arlon, osa
