• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

The Passionists of Holy Cross Province

The Love that Compels

  • Online Masses
    • Passionist Online Masses and Services
  • 300th Jubilee
    • Opening Mass of the Passionist Jubilee Year
    • Video: 300th Jubilee – English
    • Video: Jubileo Pasionista – Español
    • Jubilee Icon Itinerary
    • Jubilee Resources
    • Jubilee Song
  • Pray
    • Daily Reflections
    • Prayer Request
    • Sunday Homily
    • Passionist Spirituality and Prayer
    • Stations of the Cross
    • Prayer and Seasonal Cards
  • Grow
    • Journey into the Mystery of Christ Crucified
    • Celebrating the Feast of St. Paul of the Cross
    • Subscribe to E-News
    • Passionist Magazine
      • Passionist Magazine, Spring 2020
    • Passionist Ministries
      • Preaching
      • Hispanic Ministry
      • Haiti
      • Parish Life
      • Earth and Spirit Center
      • Education
      • Fr. Cedric Pisegna, CP, Live with Passion!
    • Retreat Centers
    • Passionist Solidarity Network
    • Sacred Heart Monastery
      • History of Sacred Heart Monastery
      • A Day in the Life of Senior Passionists
      • “Pillars” of the Community
  • Join
    • Nicholas Divine, CP, Ordination to the Diaconate
    • Are You Being Called?
    • Discerning Your Call
    • Pray With Us
    • Passionist Vocation Directors
    • Lay Partnerships
  • Connect
    • Find a Passionist
    • Passionist Websites
    • Fr. Cedric Pisegna, CP, Live with Passion!
    • Passionist Alumni Association
      • Reunions
      • 2019 Passionist Alumni Reunion
      • Welcome
      • Letter from the Provincial
        • These Men We Call Our Brothers
      • Mission Statement
      • CrossRoads Bulletin
      • Alumni Enrollment Form
        • Alumni Survey
      • Reunion Photo Gallery
  • Support
    • Donate
    • Monthly Giving
    • Leave a Legacy
      • Giving Matters
      • Ways to Give
      • Donor Relations
      • Testimonials
    • Prayer and Seasonal Cards
    • Privacy Policy Statement
  • Learn
    • Our Founder
    • History
    • The Letters of St. Paul of the Cross
    • The Diary of St. Paul of the Cross
    • Mission and Charism
    • Saints and Blesseds
    • FAQs
    • Find a Passionist
    • STUDIES IN PASSIONIST HISTORY AND SPIRITUALITY
  • Safe Environments

Daily Scripture, April 2, 2018

Scripture:

Acts 2:14, 22-33
Matthew 28:8-15

Reflection:

The joy of the apostles and the community of disciple men and women followed on the realization that Jesus was raised out of the tomb, and that he intended to re-engage with them in the imminent moment.

In fact, today’s Gospel narrative relays this information in the dialogue that Jesus has with Mary of Magdala and the other Mary, who came to visit the tomb, but were told by the angel to go tell the disciples of his Resurrection, and of his going before them to Galilee (Mt 28:5-10).

It was the reason for the ecstatic happiness of the disciples who returned from Emmaus to report that they had recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread (Lk 24:33-35).

The importance of this enthusiastic acceptance of the Resurrection of Jesus is that it fueled the Evangelization that was to become the principal work of the Church from that day forward. This clear connection between the Resurrection of Jesus and the work of Evangelization is seen in the way that the 28th chapter of Matthew’s Gospel, from which is taken today’s Gospel reading, contains both a declaration of the Resurrection of Jesus, and a commissioning of the disciples to take the Good News of salvation to “all nations.” (Mt 28:19).

This gives the passage from the first reading, “God raised this Jesus; of this we are all witnesses” (Acts 2:32), a special significance. The self-identity of the first Christian community is not in calling themselves “Christians,” a name by which they were to become known after the establishing of the community in Antioch, they referred to themselves as “witnesses.”

Paul, in his speech to at Cornelius’ home in Caesarea (Acts 10:34-43) builds a bridge between these elements of Christian witness. Especially relevant are verses 39-43: We are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and (in) Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree. This man God raised (on) the third day and granted that he be visible, not to all the people, but to us, the witnesses chosen by God in advance, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commissioned us to preach to the people and testify that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness, that everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins through his name.

This Christian identity of being “witnesses” is the fruit of the Resurrection of Jesus. The first disciples immediately saw the meaning of the Resurrection in the commission that Jesus gave them to become witnesses of the Good News to all the world. Today, as we celebrate the Octave of Easter, let us also renew our conviction that Jesus has called us to be His witnesses in the world, that the mission of Jesus may also be lived in and through our witness to the ongoing presence of Christ in the world. We are both his witnesses, and the living members of his body today.


Fr. Arthur Carrillo, C.P.  is the director of the Missions for Holy Cross Province.  He lives in Chicago, Illinois. 

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Manuel Valencia says

    April 2, 2018 at 9:25 am

    Great reflection!

Footer

Facebook Feed

Support the Passionists

Contact the Passionists

The Passionists of Holy Cross Province
660 Busse Highway | Park Ridge, IL 60068
Tel: 847.518.8844 | Toll-free: 800.295.9048 | Fax: 847.518.0461
Safe Environments | Board Member Portal | Copyright © 2021 | Log in