Easter Sunday (April 12, 2020)

Acts 10.34a, 37-43; Col 3.1-4; Jn 20.1-18

• The glorious resurrection of the Lord gives Christians great joy and thanksgiving, because although we were dead through sin, God, full of mercy, moved by the infinite compassion with which He loved, gave us Christ – and He raised us with Him. Our Lord's resurrection is a moment of joy and surprise. Mary Magdalene, while going to anoint the body of Jesus, discovers something she was not expecting: the tomb is empty! Peter and the other disciple are likewise met with confusion and surprise. What appeared to be the end of their ministry, a sad and dismal day, turned into a day of much rejoicing.

• As St. Peter says, the Resurrection of Christ is a powerful call to “bear witness” to the kingship of Christ through what we say and do. We must not hesitate to expect the same in our endeavours. We are called to perform our duties, just as Mary Magdalene did, but we must not get discouraged when every effort seems fruitless. Our God is a God of surprises; He brings the greatest good even out of the greatest evil.

• The celebration of our Redemption at Easter gives hope, not only for ourselves, but for those aborted babies and especially for those who have repented for their own complicity in this moral crime. Jesus Christ lives. He has triumphed over death; He has overcome sorrow, anguish, and the power of darkness. This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad! In the fight to end abortion and assisted suicide, we can often feel like we are fighting in vain. Every effort is met with a further challenge, but we can be sure that Truth will always win; we need only do our part.

Pro-Life Intercession

That Jesus, who conquered the power of death, may give our society the strength to eliminate the evils of abortion and assisted suicide, we pray to the Lord...