The octave of the first Easter was disappointing and uneventful for the apostles. On the evening of the day of Jesus’ resurrection, Jesus sent His apostles to proclaim His Gospel (Jn 20:21), but eight days later they were still paralyzed by fear and behind locked doors (see Jn 20:26). Thomas, not present a week earlier, did not believe that Jesus was risen from the dead. Perhaps this is because Thomas saw no change in the lifestyle of those who had seen the risen Jesus. However, the Lord had mercy on the apostles after they were unfaithful to Him so many times. He came to them once again and was even willing to subject Himself to Thomas prodding His wounds (Jn 20:27).

Possibly the octave of Easter has been disappointing for you also. You may have even sinned against the risen Lord. You may be concealing Jesus’ Resurrection more than revealing it. Nevertheless, Jesus comes to you once again with rays of mercy coming from His wounded heart.

The Holy Spirit is “the Spirit of truth” (Jn 16:13). He will move us to be true to the Lord and not unfaithful. The Holy Spirit will produce the fruit of love in us (Gal 5:22), and we will stop our sinful rejection of the Lord and our disobedience to Him. By Jesus’ mercy and the power of the Holy Spirit, we will be witnesses for the risen Christ and truly celebrate Easter. “Lord, have mercy. Come, Holy Spirit!”

Alleluia! Jesus is risen! “Death has no more power over Him” or over us (Rm 6:9). Alleluia forever!

We are “raised up in company with Christ” (Col 3:1) and begin to live a risen life by being baptized into Christ and thereby into His death and Resurrection. Because we entered the life of the risen Christ through Baptism, on this first day of Easter the Lord through His Church challenges us to renew our baptismal promises. Today, we proclaim our faith in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, for we were baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. To live our faith in the Holy Trinity, we must reject Satan completely — all his works and all his promises. To have faith in the Trinity is to believe in the divinity of Jesus. He is the only Way to the Father (Jn 14:6) and the One Who baptizes us in the Spirit (Mk 1:8). To have faith in Jesus’ divinity spurs us to love His Body, the Church, serving the members sacrificially (see Eph 5:25), and to obey all that has been revealed by the Lord and taught by His Church.

On this Easter day, make the deepest act of faith you have ever made. Renew your baptismal promises. Live your Baptism fully. Meet the risen Christ. Alleluia!

“As [Jesus] rode along” today’s Gospel reading begins.  All of us go on a journey with Christ, burdened with our cross.  Though our travel is joyful, it also contains frustrations, disappointment, betrayals, and challenges.  On each step of the way toward Jerusalem, Jesus is close at hand, united in our passion and sacrifice.  Though this Holy Week, we have the opportunity to be transformed.  Will you be open to being led to something new?

The mercy of God is apparent in our Scripture today as Jesus ministers to the woman caught in the act of adultery.  The Gospel is a start reminder of the contrast between God and humanity, for still in our time we are ready to seek out vengeance or condemnation rather than lift up others in mercy.  We have opportunities to help others experience God’s grace by loving the sinner while condemning the sin.  It is our choice to assist in brining about new things and eradicating old ways that call for punishments that equate to seeking “an eye for an eye.”  We are called to be agents of mercy.

This Gospel is often called the return of the prodigal son.  Many people assume the word “prodigal” means lost.  But the original meaning of the word is “yielding lavishly” or “abundant.”  Knowing the word’s meaning gives us another take on this parable.  How are we “prodigal”?  Are we yielding with mercy like the Father?  Or are we abundant with revenge like the son who stayed put and grew stonehearted?  Theses 3 characters show ways of being prodigal.  How do you choose to live?