Sunday, April 26, 2020

THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER

“People are made for happiness. Rightly, then, you thirst for happiness.
Christ has the answer to this desire of yours. But He asks you to trust Him.
- St. Pope John Paul II

In life everyone has hopes and dreams about better health, healing, financial security and better family relationships. Unfortunately, Hopes and dreams often shatter. This distorts our happiness. More particularly with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, almost all our plans and expectations have been destructed. A situation like this might have engendered despondency and despair amongst many of us. 

So the message of our readings today should inspire us that no matter what happens in our lives, the risen Lord is always with us. God is near to those who seek Him and who want to live in His presence, doing His will.

The story of the Emmaus walk in our gospel reading has myriads of lesson for us in regard to the challenging situation of COVID-19. It assures us that God will never abandon us when we are hurt and disappointed.

This promises us that, in life’s rough times in our journey, Jesus will come to us in unfamiliar guises to support and strengthen us when we least expect it. He meets us on the road both in the ordinary experiences of our lives and in the places to which we retreat when life is too much for us.

Peter, in his first public proclamation about the resurrected Christ Jesus, emphasized that we are delivered through the blood of Jesus from the power of sin and worries. The two disciples on the road to Emmaus recognized Him in the breaking of bread. This is a testimony to the purpose and identity of Jesus Christ. We must also proclaim Him with our lives. Walk the talk of your faith conviction.

Finally, Peter encourages us, as he did to the early Christians, to place our hopes and faith in God through Jesus Christ. This means that Jesus’ death was part of God's plan for all eternity. Even if life will fail us, God and His son Jesus will never!

Remember, with Jesus in the boat of your wavering life, the storms will calm down; your desired happiness is ensured. But you have to grow a substantial amount of total trust and dependence upon Him. God is still working and walking with you. He has not given up on you! GOD IS WITH YOU.

Safer at Home...PRAY... Take precautions....Keep up the Faith.

Let HOPE open the doors to your HAPPINESS.

Fr. Emmanuel

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