Elija Mission

Through the meditations on the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, we were introduced during the Easter Octave to the liturgically wonderful Easter season, which the Risen Lord spent with His disciples on earth to further prepare them for their future mission. One can still sense the disciples’ amazement at the events, which only gradually sank in as reality.

In deciding how to continue my daily reflections, I have chosen the readings of the Old Rite as my primary guide. Since I have frequently interpreted the readings of the New Rite, links to these earlier reflections will continue to be available at the end of my remarks.

First, however, it is important to delve deeper into a significant topic.

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What is true peace? It is the peace that comes from God, the peace that springs from His heart. Jesus put it this way: Read More

We have heard it many times in the accounts. It has happened: The Lord has risen from the dead! He is truly risen! Alleluia! This cry resounds throughout the Christian faith and gives it hope—hope even in dark times, when it seems to be fading—for the Resurrection of Christ is the visible sign of victory over hell and death! “O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting?” (1 Cor 15:55) May this cry never fall silent. May it lift up all despondent hearts and pierce through the darkness. The Lord is risen! Today’s Gospel reading in the Old Rite (John 20:1–9) takes us back once more to the disciples on the early morning of Easter. They still have a journey to make to understand what happened on Easter morning. It is still unclear to them, and they are shaken and grieving over the death of their Lord. What will happen after His death? The Lord now lay in the tomb … Read More

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.” (Mt 28:18-20) Read More

“Peace be to you (…). Why are you troubled? (…) it is I myself” (Lk 24:36, 38–39).

This is how the Risen Lord addressed His disciples when He appeared among them. They still could not quite believe it and were filled with dread and fear (Lk 24:37). Who was this who spoke to them? Their eyes had not yet been opened; they could not recognize the Risen One.

Was He perhaps a spirit? No, it was the Lord! It was the very One with whom they had journeyed and whom they had followed for three years, with whom they had eaten and drunk; the One who had performed miracles before their eyes and had instructed them with the fullness of wisdom. Yet now they could not recognize Him. Could He perhaps be a ghost?

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NOTE: Throughout Easter Week, the daily meditations will take on a more contemplative tone, to help us delve deeper into the great event of our faith: the Resurrection of the Lord. The “3 Minutes for Abba” will continue as usual (https://en.elijamission.net/category/3-minutes-for-god-the-father/).

Just as You foretold, beloved Jesus, it has come to pass. You have truly risen!

You rose from the dead, and the good news has reached us. The first to announce it were the angels at the tomb: “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen” (Lk 24:5). Then came Mary Magdalene; she had the grace to see You first, and then the apostles. There is no doubt! Not even the hostile Jews and the bribed soldiers could hide the truth. Alleluia!

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Mary Magdalene, wanting to show her love for the Lord even in death, runs to the tomb before daybreak.

“They have taken the Lord out of the tomb and we don’t know where they have put Him” (Jn 20:2) – she exclaims in pain, when she discovers that the stone of the tomb has been removed. Are the dead not even left in peace? Where is her Lord?

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Mourning for the Lord; grief for men, who have not recognised their Redeemer and have crucified Him… Mourning of the Mother for the beloved Son; mourning and bewilderment among the disciples, who say to each other in confusion: “Our own hope had been that He would be the one to set Israel free…” (Lk 24:21)

But the Lord descended into hell, to those who were still waiting for the Redemption, and He filled them also with His love.

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