People's Prayers: Prayers of the People: Again and Always Risen! Indeed! ~ Easter Day '23 Yr A

Readings for Sunday, April 9, 2023: Acts 10:34-43; Ps 118:1-2, 14-24; Colossians 3:1-4; John 20:1-18

God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power...he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. [Acts 10:38]

   On this day the LORD has acted; we will rejoice and be glad in it. [Psalm 118:24]

Since you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is...Set your minds on the things that are above, not on things that are on earth... [Colossians 3:1a, 2a]

Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni” (which means Teacher)…Jesus said to her…”go to my brothers and say to them I am ascending to my Father…” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples...”I have seen the Lord…” [John 20:16-18]
EASTER is here! Hallelujah!! Christ IS Risen!!! Wherever you are on this planet whether bursting into Spring, slipping into Autumn, or somewhere in between, today our Salvation is assured, again and still, through our faith in this Risen Lord of All.

  There are four Gospel accounts of the death and resurrection of Jesus. This year we hear from the Gospel of John who tells us of Mary the Magdalene’s weeping at the tomb and, looking in, seeing two angels sitting where the body of Jesus had been placed. The angels asked why she was weeping. She turned around and saw Jesus but didn’t recognize him at first and then she did…

   What does Easter actually mean to you? How would you describe it? Which of the four Gospel stories is closest to your memory or has greater impact for you in your daily life? Listening to and reading different accounts of the same event can give us a fresh perspective and a new experience of the moment.

       Take the time in this Easter season and read all 4 of the Gospel accounts of the resurrection of Jesus*, perhaps in a small group. Read them all in several different translations. Reflect on what surprises you and what questions arise. Notice the similarities and differences. Wonder, and try to decide, if one account speaks to you more than another and why? Or perhaps you'll mix and match the Gospel writers' accounts to arrive at your own version. Visualize yourself in the time and place. Whatever you do, ask yourself: So what? What does it all mean for my life today, tomorrow, and beyond? What will I do ~ or stop doing ~ as a result of reflecting on Christ's Death and Resurrection?

The late Thomas Merton, who became a Trappist Monk after being a world traveler in his early life, says in his book, He is Risen, “Christ is the Lord of a history that moves. He not only holds the beginning and the end in his hands, but he is in history with us, walking ahead of us to where we are going…True encounter with Christ liberates something in us, a power that we did not know we had, a hope, a capacity for life, resilience, an ability to bounce back when we thought we were completely defeated, a capacity to grow and change, a power of creative transformation.” How important are these words in these times, for you?

     Let’s seek fresh joy, that "creative transformation" that Merton speaks of. I want to dust off and resurrect my faith, and meet and be liberated by Christ beyond the tomb. While I firmly believe that the resurrection of Easter requires the Cross of Good Friday, as Christ is moving with us and before us, our path, though not easy, will surely lead us into the eternal Easter of Salvation and life everlasting. Choirs of angels await…   And while you’re at it, don’t forget to be in touch with those for whom the Church is always distant and unattainable, who are isolated by age, illness, physical distance, and other reasons. A phone call, a note, a mail-ordered or delivered Easter basket will go a long way to keeping Christ present in their absence from us…a little taste of heaven goes a long way. He IS Risen! He is ALWAYS RISEN! Hallelujah!

*The Resurrection accounts: Matthew 28:1-20, Mark 16:1-20, Luke 24:1-12 [13-44], John 20:1-18 For different translations, see https://www.biblegateway.com/. Just search on the passages listed and choose from a large number of translations. Some listed such as The Good News Bible, The Living Bible, The Message, etc., are not translations but paraphrases by authors choosing to make the more formal Scriptural language somewhat easier to relate the translations to everyday thoughts and speaking. It often helps in reverse by turning back to the Scripture to understand it more clearly.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ O Christ, Risen! On this Day the Lord has acted! We will rejoice and be glad in it. In the midst of the darkness and fear in this world, let us revel in the Divine Light of Your Glorious Resurrection.

Hallelujah! Christ is Risen!

Response: Jesus is risen indeed! Hallelujah!

~ O Christ, Risen! Especially in these uncertain times, grant ever increasing amounts of prudence, integrity of purpose, compassion, and mercy, to all the political leaders of this Earth, this Nation, and this Community. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Hallelujah! Christ is Risen!