Jesus tells his disciples, and he tells us, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You trust in God, trust also in me.” This reflection from John is often read at funerals and is fitting for us today as we still relish in the joy of Easter. On that Holy Night, just two weeks ago, we once again renewed the promises of Baptism to live in the light of the Lord, and we approached the table of the Lord, partaking in the Body of the Lord, a foretaste of the heavenly banquet. Together, as sisters and brothers, we proclaimed the Alleluia. We have continued to sing this joyful and triumphant song throughout this holy season.

But even as we joyfully rejoice in the Resurrection of the Lord, our hearts are troubled. We are keenly aware that the message and the mission that Jesus taught us in his earthly mission about love, peace, care for our sisters and brothers in need, offering welcome to refugees, feeding the hungry, setting captives free, and healing the broken-hearted, has not yet been realized in our world.

The resurrection of Jesus and his great commissioning hands over to us making the message that he preached a reality in our day. We are not alone. We have the guidance of the Holy Spirit, an overpowering abundance of grace, the community of our sisters and brothers, the heroic examples of those who have gone before, and the Eucharist. Jesus feeds us with Word and Sacrament as our nourishment as we are sent forth to be his instruments in transforming a world gone astray.

Julian of Norwich, a woman of great vision, wrote, “The greatest honor we can give Almighty God is to live gladly because of the knowledge of his love.” Let us live in that love and profess it in our actions.

Let Us Pray:

As we glory and rejoice in your resurrection, Jesus, give us an abundance of your grace to witness to your loving and life-giving love, your hope, and your peace to all those we meet and all those who seek our help. “May we all be Alleluias from head to feet.” Amen.