Readings:
Acts 2:14,22-33
Matthew 28:8-15
Have you ever received such good news that you couldn’t help but run for joy to tell someone about it? This reminder of our Easter joy is what we witness in the gospel today as the disciples “full of joy run to tell the other disciples.” Put yourself in the scene: The man Jesus, who you love and who you thought lost to the violence of the world, has triumphed over death and is alive. The weight of despair lifted, replaced by an overwhelming sense of elation and wonder. It’s the kind of joy that fills every fiber of your being, propelling you forward with an urgency to share the news with others.
In our lives, moments of pure joy are often rare and fleeting. But the resurrection of Jesus Christ offers us a joy that transcends all earthly experiences. It’s a joy born out of the realization that death has been defeated and that love has triumphed over darkness. This joy isn’t just for the disciples of old; it’s for each one of us today. It’s a joy that reminds us of the incredible gift of salvation we’ve received, a gift too precious to keep to ourselves.
Just as the disciples couldn’t contain their joy, neither should we. Let us be like them, running with hearts overflowing, eager to share the good news of Easter with everyone we meet. For in spreading this joy, we become bearers of hope and agents of God’s love in a world hungering for light.
Claire O’Donohue is a current Oxley Passionist Youth Retreat Team member. While also in her final year of university, she is completing her bachelor’s degree with a major in visual art and theology.