Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, the Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia, alleluia! United once again during that liturgical period in which Christ was risen from the dead yet not ascended to the Father, we are invited to reflect on the profound mysteries of our faith, illuminated through today’s readings. We find ourselves within the Octave of Easter, a time of joyous celebration and deep renewal, as we continue to ponder the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and the bearing it has on our earthly and supernatural lives.
In the reading from the Acts of the Apostles, we witness a miraculous healing—Peter and John restoring a crippled man to wholeness. This miracle evokes awe and wonder among the gathered crowds, yet Peter is quick to redirect their amazement from himself and John to God. “Why do you look so intently at us,” he asks, “as if we had made him walk by our own power or piety?” Here, we see a crucial lesson: miracles point to the power of God, not to human capability. God is the source of life and healing.
Peter continues with a challenging but necessary truth: those who witnessed this miracle are also complicit in the crucifixion of Christ. “You denied the Holy and Righteous One,” he proclaims, inviting the crowd to recognize their part in the passion story. Yet, he does not stop there. In the face of their sins, he brings a message of hope—“Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away.” Repentance opens the door to forgiveness and renewal. It invites each of us to reflect on where we may have strayed and how God is calling us back into relationship.
Our Responsorial Psalm echoes the grandeur of God’s creation, emphasizing the relationship between humanity and the divine: "O Lord, our God, how wonderful is your name in all the earth!" This psalm serves as a reminder of our dignity; we are made in God’s image and crowned with glory and honour. This inherent worth becomes even more evident in the light of Christ’s resurrection. Each life holds value and purpose because God has chosen to dwell among us and redeem us.
In the gospel reading from Luke, we find the resurrected Jesus appearing to His disciples, who are frightened and unsure of what they are witnessing. “Peace be with you,” He proclaims, calming their fears even as He assures them of His physical reality. The risen Christ invites them to touch His wounds, emphasizing that He is not just a phantom or an idea but fully human and fully alive. This tangible presence brings joy and astonishment—a reminder that our faith is rooted in reality, not myth.
As He opens their minds to the Scriptures, He reveals the heart of our salvation history: His suffering, death, and resurrection fulfill the promises of the Old Testament. In this act of revelation, we recognize that we too are called to be witnesses of these events. We bear the responsibility to share the transformative message of Christ with the world.
So, how does this all apply to us today, in our everyday lives? As we reflect on these readings during this Easter season, let us ask ourselves: Are we truly witnesses of the resurrection? Are we sharing the joy of Christ’s victory over sin and death with those around us?
On this Thursday of the Octave of Easter, may we be empowered by the Holy Spirit to be true witnesses of our Risen Lord, sharing the story of salvation with enthusiasm and love. May we seek out and embody the peace that Jesus offers, so that we may honour the incredible gift of the resurrection in our lives.
Amen.
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