✝️ He Is Risen — And So Shall We
Easter Sunday Reflection By Deacon Richard
Readings: Acts 10:34a, 37–43 | Psalm 118 | Colossians 3:1–4 | John 20:1–9
Original Catholic Song:
Christ is Risen! Alleluia!
As we arrive at the radiant summit of our Christian faith—Easter Sunday—we proclaim not just a historical event, but a present and eternal truth: The tomb is empty. Jesus Christ has risen. And that changes everything.
"While It Was Still Dark..."
The Gospel of John begins today’s account with Mary Magdalene arriving at the tomb “while it was still dark.”
How many of us have walked through our own darkness—
the darkness of grief,
the darkness of anxiety,
the darkness of a world that seems to have forgotten God?
And yet, like Mary, we are called to draw near. Not because we fully understand, but because we love. Because we hope. Because we trust that the story isn't over.
The Race Toward Hope
Peter and John run toward the tomb. What do they find? Not Jesus. Not angels. Not even a miracle in plain sight.
They see linen cloths. An empty space. A sign of absence.
But that absence was actually full of promise. “He saw and believed,” says the Gospel. John believed not because he had all the answers, but because he encountered a new possibility: God was not done. Death was not the end.
The Resurrection Meets Our Modern Despair
Let’s be honest: today’s world is tired.
We're tired of division, war, addiction, isolation, and cynicism.
We see young people searching for identity, adults overwhelmed with meaninglessness, and families fractured by fear.
But Easter proclaims:
“You were made for more.”
Not just survival. Not just comfort.
You were made for resurrection.
When Saint Paul tells us in Colossians, “Set your minds on things that are above,” he isn’t telling us to ignore reality—he’s inviting us to live differently within it. To bring a resurrected vision into a world that still clings to the tomb.
“This is the Day…”
Psalm 118 declares:
“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.”
This is not forced optimism. It’s Easter realism.
Because of the Resurrection:
– Our past doesn’t imprison us.
– Our wounds don’t define us.
– Our sin doesn’t have the final word.
Jesus has conquered death—and invites us to walk out of the grave with Him.
Be Easter People
Today, let’s not just remember the Resurrection—let’s live it.
Let the Gospel inspire us:
When darkness comes, remember Mary who kept walking.
When fear takes over, remember Peter who ran to the tomb.
When questions arise, remember John who believed.
We are not forgotten.
We are not alone.
We are called to rise.
If this reflection blessed you, follow me here on Substack or connect with me on X (@catholic_deacon) for weekly reflections grounded in Scripture, Tradition, and everyday Catholic life.
Wishing you and your family a blessed and joyful Easter Octave and Easter Season.
He is Risen, indeed!
✝️ Deacon Richard
Indeed He is Risen!!✨✨✨