"THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE. LET US BE GLAD AND REJOICE IN IT!"
This is the day that we should rejoice because it is the culmination of the three holy days -- the Holy Tridium -- when we were FULLY REDEEMED! These three days: Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday Morning are the fulfillment of the Holy Paschal Mystery of our Redemption.
Mary Magdaline is our model for rejoicing and evangelizing. Mary saw Jesus in the garden and thought He was the gardener. But He said: "Mary!" and she recognized Jesus and replied, "Rebonni"! (Teacher). Jesus told her to go and tell His desciples that He is risen! Now, why did Jesus choose Mary Magdaline to bring the Good News to the Apostles? Why did Jesus choose this woman to evangelize the Evangelists? Would it not be better if Jesus has sent His own mother, Mary, instead of this new convert to the Faith? No, if Jesus sent His mother, His desciples would easily believe her. But Jesus wanted a redeemed sinner to bring the Good News to show that a forgiven sinner is whom God loves to choose because of her humility..and to let the desciples know that women have a great role in the Church. Also, Mary teaches all of us that WE must bring the Resurrection Good News to others. Let us humbly and boldly be like Mary who encurred rejection in bringing the Good New to the desciples. She followed and obeyed Jesus ...followed Him to the Hill of the Cross ...followed Him to the tomb..and now to His Resurrection! She was on fire for the Lord! So, should we be..and brave all to bring this message to the world: "Jesus has Risen...ALLELUIA!"
So, look in the mirror this morning. Do you an evangelist who looks redeemed! Will others who look at you today see in your face that you are redeemed?! Will they see in your smile and eyes that you are forgiven, set free and redeemed? Will they see in your face the relief that you were once a prisoner but now are set free and now have a new life in Jesus? Will they see in your face that you have the Faith and Hope -- the conviction -- that now you going to heaven because Jesus has paid the price for your sins and let you go free to go and forgive and love others as He has forgiven and loved you? Will they see that you have the assurance of eternal life...the security of having your name written right now in the Book of Life! Your name is there!
Therefore: "REJOICE..AGAIN I SAY REJOICE!"
Jesus said: "Love one another as I have loved you!" This is the day to love one another -- even more than Christmas! On Christmas, the Child Jesus or Redeemer was born. But today, the Child Jesus has become the REDEEMER actualized -- come fully of age -- and has accomplished what He was sent to do: REDEEM YOU AND ME!
So, let us look redeemed! Let us have joy on our faces fully reflecting the true joy in our hearts:
WE ARE REDEEMED!!
Therefore, these three days of Holy Tridium is a fulfillment of the Promise that God the Father made to Adam and Eve that He would send a Redeemer to bring them back into Paradise! Adam and Eve are NOW in Paradise just as the Father PROMISED THEM.
So, just as Adam and Eve had lost paradise by pride and disobedience against God, now the New Adam: Jesus and the New Eve: Mary by their obedience have brought us all of back into paradise..now and forever! And just as the "tree of good and evil" in the garden brought death to Adam and Eve and took them out of paradise, now the Tree of Life in the Garden of Calvary has given us the new Fruit of Justice and brought us back to paradise!
HAPPY EASTER!!
"Happy" because the Loving Father accomplished and fulfilled His promise: this great Act of Love for Adam and Eve and all their children down the centuries? How did He do it? By His love:
"God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son so that whoever would believe in Him would have eternal life!" John 3:16.
Peace and Love and Joy,
Pio Peter Zammit
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