Fr. Martin Ali Keke Ndemsou sx
The resurrection of the Lord Jesus must be the source of our joy and of our mission as Jesus’ disciples. Indeed, “Filled with awe and a great joy the women came quickly from the tomb and ran to tell the disciples” (Mt28: 8).
Having received from the angels the good news that filled their hearts, those brave women went promptly to share it with others. They could not keep for themselves the source of their great joy; they had to spread it rapidly around them.
Thus on their hasty missionary journey, Jesus met them in their zeal to announce him; the risen Lord made himself known to them and sent them: “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers that they must leave for Galilee; they will see me there” (Mt28: 10c). They became courageous missionaries.
“Do not be afraid.” These words are very often used in the Bible to strengthen those God chooses to collaborate with him. It is even said that they might be used 365 times in the bible. In fact, fear can paralyze the spreading of the Gospel because it is synonymous of lack of faith.
Every day, Jesus wants all the baptized to be joyful and bold missionaries that proclaim the good news of his resurrection without fear. This is what Peter did during his address in the house of Cornelius in the first reading taken from the Acts of the Apostles: “Now I, and those with me, can witness to everything he did throughout the countryside of Judaea and in Jerusalem itself: and also to the fact that they killed him by hanging him on a tree, yet three days afterwards God raised him to life” (Acts10: 39-40a).
Let us then be bold missionaries because filled with the great joy of the resurrection of the Lord. Let the joy of the Lord be our strength in a world that shows us every day the sad face of life. We must be messengers of the joy of life and not of death. Christus vivit and he wants us to be alive. Happy Easter to all!!!
Fr. Martin Ali keke Ndemsou, sx
The resurrection of the Lord Jesus must be the source of our joy and of our mission as Jesus’ disciples. Indeed, “Filled with awe and a great joy the women came quickly from the tomb and ran to tell the disciples” (Mt28: 8).
Having received from the angels the good news that filled their hearts, those brave women went promptly to share it with others. They could not keep for themselves the source of their great joy; they had to spread it rapidly around them.
Thus on their hasty missionary journey, Jesus met them in their zeal to announce him; the risen Lord made himself known to them and sent them: “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers that they must leave for Galilee; they will see me there” (Mt28: 10c). They became courageous missionaries.
“Do not be afraid.” These words are very often used in the Bible to strengthen those God chooses to collaborate with him. It is even said that they might be used 365 times in the bible. In fact, fear can paralyze the spreading of the Gospel because it is synonymous of lack of faith.
Every day, Jesus wants all the baptized to be joyful and bold missionaries that proclaim the good news of his resurrection without fear. This is what Peter did during his address in the house of Cornelius in the first reading taken from the Acts of the Apostles: “Now I, and those with me, can witness to everything he did throughout the countryside of Judaea and in Jerusalem itself: and also to the fact that they killed him by hanging him on a tree, yet three days afterwards God raised him to life” (Acts10: 39-40a).
Let us then be bold missionaries because filled with the great joy of the resurrection of the Lord. Let the joy of the Lord be our strength in a world that shows us every day the sad face of life. We must be messengers of the joy of life and not of death. Christus vivit and he wants us to be alive. Happy Easter to all!!!
Fr. Martin Ali keke Ndemsou, sx