7th Sunday of Easter – Year A

“Jesus raised his eyes to heaven.” This line today caught my eye when I was preparing my homily and reflecting on the scripture readings.  ‘Jesus raised his eyes to heaven.’  Have you done the same recently?  Maybe when you’re walking outside, the sun shining brightly with a beautiful blue sky, or interesting cloud formation.  Or maybe watching the sunset over the sea, and you find yourself looking upwards towards heaven and saying a prayer of thanksgiving.  Sometimes when I walk along the coast, I start singing the words from the hymn ‘I the Lord of sea and sky’. Then for the next 10mins or so, I end up humming the tune to myself, since I cannot get it out of my head. 

Today the scriptures shows us the importance of prayer.  In the first reading the Apostles, with Mary, and the other disciples were praying in the upper room, waiting for the Holy Spirit to come down upon them.  Which we will celebrate next week at Pentecost.  St Luke shows us in his writings the persistent of communal prayer in the early Church.  We should be wise and imitate them in our own lives.  Our Christian way of life should be rooted deeply in Christ Jesus, and the only way we can to talk to him for guidance is through prayer. 

We are encouraged by the Church to prayer often.  Priests and Religious make a promise to the Bishop to pray the Liturgy of Hours (which is also called) the Divine Office, five times a day for the intentions for the whole world. 

May we as God’s people, imitate the Apostles and increase our devotion to Christ the Lord, spending quality time in prayer.  Prayer doesn’t have to be long, you could say: ‘Lord, help me’, and you will be given the grace you need to carry or resolve the burden.  This is also good advice for students at this time who are facing pressures of revision and examinations at this time.  ‘Lord, help me in my exam.’ 

In the Gospel we hear Jesus’ ‘High Priestly Prayer’ offered to the Father for the intentions of his disciples, just before he goes to the Garden of Gethsemane and the start of His Passion.  Jesus is showing himself as the ‘High Priest’ performing his priestly roles of intercessor and mediator.  Through this prayer for unity, Jesus provides us with a glimpse into the communion between the Father and the Son, into which he invites all of humanity to enter. 

Jesus begins his prayer with a customary Jewish gesture: ‘He raised his eyes to heaven’.  The Father has already given Jesus authority over all people, and now Jesus is asking the Father to glorify him, so that when he has been crucified, resurrected, and exalted into glory, he may give eternal life to all peoples ‘in time’, whom the Father has given to him. ‘In time’ meaning throughout the generations, who are God’s faithful people.

How closely to we follow the words in the celebration of the Mass?  Especially during the words in the Eucharistic Prayers.  A prayer of ‘thanksgiving’ to God the Father.  This Jewish gesture is repeated again by the priest. 

In Eucharistic prayer 1, the priest says:

“On the day before he was to suffer, he took bread in his holy and venerable hands, and with eyes raised to heaven to you, O God, his almighty Father, giving you thanks, he said the blessing, broke the bread and gave it to his disciples.”  

In the Missal, there is even an instruction in red, (which is part of the rubrics) telling the priest to physically raise his eyes to heaven during these words. 

This can be very challenging to do when learning how to celebrate the Mass, during my seminary days.  So, during the Eucharist prayer today, watch out for this, as we partake together praising the Father for the whole work of salvation, that we may be worthy to receive the Most Holy Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Nature … God’s creation, is so wonderful, it is nice just to stop and pause, take a breath and ponder.  Especially in the Lake District or on the coast, just to take in the beauty of the sea and sky, to ponder on what we are seeing.  To reflect on the awesomeness of God’s gift and the love for each of us.  He has created all of us, because he loves us.  So, the next time you’re walking outside, raise your eyes to heaven and say thank you for the precious gift of life itself.

The Ascension of the Lord

By virtue of our calling as Christians through our Baptism, we are meant to be an optimistic people, full of hope and rooted in confidence about our future and death in Christ Jesus.  The Ascension proclaims that Jesus, who spent his life in Jerusalem and the surrounding countryside of Galilee, has achieved the work he was sent to do, and now in Heaven seated at the Right hand of God the Father, the highest honour that is assigned for a King, since He is enthroned as King and Lord of the Universe.  His Resurrection has now been fully revealed showing His Divine Sovereignty, fulfilling the prophecy that was said to the Sanhedrin during Jesus’ trial.

‘Are you the Messiah the son of the Blessed one? The High Priest asked him.  Jesus answered, ‘I am’ and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.’

Jesus’ enthronement in Heaven however, does not imply that his absence here on earth will cease.  No, because Jesus is no longer bound by the limits of space and time, and therefore he can be present to His disciples in an infinitely and more intimate way, through the Holy Spirit than he could ever have been before while on earth.  Jesus is not only with us, but also in us.  Where Christ has gone, we hope to follow, once our earthly journey has ended. 

The Ascension speaks of a new era.  For the Apostles their period of training is over, and the time has arrived for the beginning of their mission, ‘to go out to the whole world and proclaim the Good News.’  At the Lord’s departure the disciples stood motionless, transfixed by what had happened.  However, their mission is not to stand around looking upwards all day, waiting for something to happen.  In Christ’s absence they were to be his messengers. 

The Ascension gives us a glimpse of the great future to which we have been called to, by becoming His Saints in Heaven.  Like the Apostles, Christ commands us to be his witnesses in preaching the Good News.  As you know, this is a daunting task, but through the Holy Spirit we can all do it, by witnessing to our faith each day, and allowing the Spirit to talk through us. 

Life is often called a pilgrimage and we are travellers on that rocky road, through life’s many up’s and down’s.  We can be weakened by the many trails that come our way, our sufferings and disappointments.  However, the Ascension assures us that there is a purpose to life, a plan, that our journeying, however difficult, will take us back to the Father one day. 

We all live in hope, in the expectation for the Lord’s return on the last day.  May our hearts be ready, as we await for the Bridegroom’s return, as we take his Words to heart:  ‘I am with you always, yes, to the end of the age.’ 

6th Sunday of Easter – Year A

Today’s Gospel places us in an intimate and deeply human moment between Jesus and his disciples. These are not public teachings spoken to the crowds, but words shared privately with friends on the night before his passion.  Jesus knows that their world is about to be shaken.  They will soon face loss, confusion, fear, and uncertainty. So Jesus speaks to their hearts, not with explanations, but with promises rooted in love.

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” Jesus makes it clear that love is not simply something we feel; it is something we live.  True love shapes our choices, our priorities, and our actions.  It is expressed through faithfulness, especially when following becomes difficult or costly.  

At the heart of today’s Gospel is reassurance.  Jesus promises that he will not leave his disciples orphaned.  Though he will soon, no longer be visible to them, he will not be absent.  The Father will send the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, who will be with them, and remain in them.  This is not a temporary gift, but a lasting presence, since God does not step away from his people; he draws us closer, as He dwells within our hearts.

This promise prepares us for Pentecost, when the Church will be reborn in fire and courage.  The disciples who once misunderstood, doubted, and fled, will be transformed into bold witnesses of the truth.  

The Holy Spirit will not change their circumstances overnight, but he will change them, giving them strength where there was fear, clarity where there was confusion, and hope where there was despair.

The first reading from the Acts of the Apostles shows us what this transformation looks like.  Philip proclaims the Gospel in Samaria, and the people respond with joy.  

Healing, reconciliation, and conversion takes place, and yet the Church recognises that faith is not complete without an openness to the Holy Spirit.  

Peter and John are sent to pray over the people, and through the laying on of hands, the Spirit was received.  From the very beginning, the Church understands that Christian life is not a single moment, but a relationship that must be continually nurtured and pruned.

There is a great mystery of hope in today’s readings.  The Church has never relied simply on human strength or organisation.  From her earliest days, she has trusted in the guidance of the Holy Spirit, especially in moments of uncertainty and challenge.  Throughout every generation, Christ continues to be made present through the Spirit, in the Scriptures, the Sacraments, and the lives of all believers.

Yet the Holy Spirit never forces himself upon us.  God respects our freedom completely.  The Spirit comes gently, inviting us, rather than compelling us, waiting for a welcome from the knock of our hearts.  All that is required is an openness of the heart, a willingness to listen, and the ability and courage to change.  

Jesus offers freedom, healing, and peace, but he never overrides our choice to accept or refuse.  Our free will is a sacred gift, and how we use it shapes who we are.

The Gospel also offers us a promise of peace. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.” This peace is not the absence of trouble, but the presence of God.  It is a peace the world cannot give and cannot be taken away.  It grows quietly in our hearts, even when circumstances remain difficult.

As members of Christ’s Body, we are called to build up a better world within our own community.  When we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us, we become instruments of God’s love, sometimes through words, often through actions, always through faithfulness.  We become open to the truth by how we live, having hearts of compassion, as we serve others in charity.

The promise Jesus makes to us today, is not confined to the past.  It is fulfilled each time we choose love.  The Holy Spirit remains within us, quietly shaping, strengthening, and sending us out, so that the risen Christ may be made known in the world, for the salvation of souls. 

The Feast of the English Martyrs

On 4^th May 1535, the first martyrs of the English Reformation were hanged, drawn, and quartered at Tyburn in London. From that long and painful chapter of our history, 42 have been canonised and a further 242 declared Blessed.  They came from every walk of life, clergy and laity, scholars and servants, yet all are remembered for their constancy in faith and their courage in the face of persecution.

Among them is Saint John Houghton, a Carthusian monk whose life was hidden, enclosed, and steeped in prayer.  As Prior of the London Charterhouse, he sought no earthly power or recognition.  Yet when summoned to account for his faith, he stood firm.  As he faced death, his final words were a prayer of surrender: “Good Jesus, what will you do with my heart?”

The English Martyrs followed Christ, the truly Innocent Victim.  They were filled with faith and hope in the risen Lord.  They loved Christ above all things, and they loved the truth of the Gospel and the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.  For that love, they were willing to be dragged before governors and kings, refusing to compromise the fullness of the Catholic faith.

St John Houghton celebrated a Mass of the Holy Spirit shortly before his arrest.  That detail is significant.  In today’s readings we are reminded that it is the Holy Spirit who inflames the hearts of believers, especially the martyrs, with holy zeal for the truth and with a burning charity that enables them to give themselves completely to God.

Their heroic courage was not self‑made; they were strengthened by the Holy Spirit, enabling them to follow Christ to the end, offering their whole lives to the One who loved them first.

At the heart of their witness stood the Eucharist.  In the Holy Mass, Christ gives us his Sacred Heart.  For the English Martyrs, nothing mattered more.  Many quite literally died for the Eucharist.  Through this Sacrament of unity, they were united to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Heart that was pierced for our sake upon the Cross.

Today, we are invited to make their prayer our own. “Good Jesus, what will you do with my heart?” If we listen attentively, we hear the Lord’s gentle reply: “Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest.”

With the English Martyrs as our companions and examples, let us offer the Lord our hearts with all our hopes and fears, amid the trials of daily life.  The same Holy Spirit who strengthened them will sustain us, lifting us up and preparing us for a share in that divine glory glimpsed by Saint Stephen in today’s first reading.

One day, we too shall see the risen Lord, seated at the right hand of the Father.  Then all striving will cease, and we shall rest forever in his loving embrace.

The English Martyrs:  Pray for us.

5th Sunday of Easter – Year A

 “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood.”  In St Peter’s first letter today, it describes the Church as being a spiritual building, constructed of ‘living stones’ with Christ Himself as the Cornerstone.  Peter calls us to come directly to Jesus Himself, the ‘living stone’, rejected by humans but ‘chosen’ and ‘precious’ in the sight of God. 

Peter shows us that Jesus is the Messiah, the chosen one, who was rejected by the leaders of Israel, who was put to death, but raised to life and became the cornerstone of God’s house.  ‘Faith’ here is the key.  For those people who have faith, this stone is ‘Precious & Holy’, a gift from the Father.  However, to those without faith, this stone becomes a stumbling block, something to trip and fall over, due to their disbelief.  

In our Gospel reading we hear the start of the farewell discourse, the departing words of Jesus to his disciples before he leaves them to sit at the Father’s right hand. 

Jesus reassures His beloved disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled,” and tells them to have faith and to trust in God and in Him.  Jesus as the Father’s Son, is absolutely reliable and trustworthy, and having faith in Him, is the same as having faith in God the Father. 

Jesus refers to his home as my ‘Father’s house’, in which there are many rooms.  Jesus now promises us that He will come back again and take us with Him into the Father’s glory.  However, the disciples did not understand. 

Thomas confessed that he didn’t know where he was going, nor did he know how to get there.  Jesus responds with his sixth ‘I am’ statement. 

As some of you may know, that the ‘I am’ title is the true name of God.  It goes all the way back to the Old Testament in the book of Exodus when Moses speaks to God in the burning bush.  God told Moses to go back to Egypt to set his people free, and Moses asked, what should I say to the Israelites when they asked who has sent me to you.  What is your name?  God said ‘I am who I am.’

So, when Jesus uses this ‘I am’ title, He is showing His Divine authority as the Son of God the Most High.

In John’s Gospel there are seven ‘I am’ statements.  Can you remember them all? 

‘I am the bread of life; I am the light of the world; I am the Gate; I am the Good Shepherd; I am the true vine; I am the Resurrection and the Life.  And the one in today’s Gospel:  I am the way and the truth and the life.’

Jesus is the ‘Way’ because it is only through Him that humanity has access to the Father, through the ‘narrow gate’, the ‘one mediator’ between God and the human race.  ‘No one comes to the Father except through Him’. 

Jesus is the ‘Truth’, the Word of God, the ‘Logos’, that has come from the Father to accomplish His saving work, by drawing all people to share in His Divine communion. 

Jesus is the ‘Life’, because only He has come down from Heaven, and only He can lift humanity up to everlasting life.

St Paul writes, ‘Do not grieve, but have hope.’  Through Jesus’ promises, we have our Faith and our Hope.  The Lord Jesus is our cornerstone, that our Church is built upon, with the Holy Apostles, and especially St Peter, on whom Christ said, ‘I tell you, Peter, on this rock I will build my Church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it.’ 

So, let us rejoice like the new disciples who presented themselves to the Apostles, full of faith, filled with the Holy Spirit and Wisdom.  As we are a chosen race, a Royal Priesthood, a consecrated nation, a people set apart, who are willing to continue the work that the Lord has given to each and every one of us, for the Glory of His Most Holy Name.

4th Sunday of Easter – Good Shepherd Sunday

APPOINTED TO BE READ AT ALL PUBLIC MASSES IN ALL CHURCHES AND CHAPELS IN THE DIOCESE OF LANCASTER ON THE WEEKEND OF 25/26 APRIL 2026

Pastoral Letter for the Fourth Sunday of Eastertide, Good Shepherd Sunday.

My dear people,

It is worthy of note that for us in this country Good Shepherd Sunday falls with good timing, right in the middle of the lambing season. This is a time when not only do we see lambs and sheep appearing in our fields, but we are also treated to an array of TV programmes on farming, veterinary practices and shepherding in particular. All this gives a good insight into the care that shepherds lavish upon their flocks. They are not just supervising the births, but they go on to make sure there is food and water, also protections from disease, the weather and even predators.

We know that Jesus was not a sheep farmer, though sheep, lambs and shepherds do appear from time to time in his teaching. What we heard in the Gospel was not about animal husbandry, but rather Jesus describing himself with the qualities of a Good Shepherd: one who provides care, nourishment, protection. And in using the image of a shepherd, our Lord is borrowing from the Old Testament, which is peppered with that image, especially applied to prophets and kings – and one king in particular, David. It was he who united the north and south into one kingdom and brought stability and peace. He was the recipient of God’s promise that one of his line would prove to be the long-awaited Messiah. We understand that is Jesus. So, to those nurturing qualities of the shepherd: care, nourishment and protection, we can add leadership, even authority.

Our Gospel ended with what some have called Jesus’ strapline: ‘I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.’ All this talk about being a Good Shepherd is about life, abundant life, life to the full. Everything that Jesus said and did was life-giving. Even when he was chastising the Scribes and Pharisees and others, it was so that they might change and truly live. That aspect of Jesus ministry of Good Shepherd, lives on in those he has called, and is calling to be priests, to be shepherds of the Lord’s flock. So, it is not coincidental that today is designated as the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, it springs right out of the Gospel.

I would like now to address these words to those single men present among us:

St John Henry Newman affirms eloquently for all Christians that God has a plan for us: “God has created me to do him some definite service. He has committed some work to me, which he hasn’t committed to another. I have my mission.” Ask yourself: what is my ‘definite service’? What is my ‘mission’, committed to me by God?

Is God calling you to be a priest? Amid the noise of life, the designs and opportunities open to you, be courageous and reflect: What does God want from me? When the Apostles first encountered Jesus, He did not explain why he had chosen them, or what he had in store for them. He simply said, “Follow me!” and they did.

Perhaps, as you hear this, you are already thinking “No, this couldn’t possibly be for me”. As your Bishop, I can tell you: we all feel unworthy in our call from God. This is especially the case when we reflect that the Good Shepherd Himself may be asking us to share in his work as shepherds of His flock. Put yourself in God’s hands and let him lead you. Allow the question of becoming a priest be asked of you; meditate on it, give that process of discernment an opportunity to grow. When you come to the moment of receiving Holy Communion at Mass today – and every time you go to Mass – ask the Lord Jesus: what do you want from me?

If any of these words strike you, I invite you to join me at Lancaster Cathedral, along with others from across our diocese, at the next ‘Day for Discerning Vocation to the Priesthood’: Saturday 30 May beginning with Mass at 12.15pm. I look forward to joining you for lunch and the opportunity to talk and reflect together.

To all of you present I ask you: pray for vocations to the priesthood! And pray for your priests! This is so important. Also important is to promote a culture of vocations. We do this by talking positively about the priestly vocation, even suggesting it to someone whom God has placed in your path. We can be people who are full of encouragement. This year, please God, we shall have one ordination to the priesthood which will leave us with one student to complete his training. Some good news is that in September we shall have five men embarking on their journey of discernment, mostly at the English College in Spain. This news encourages us and prompts us to prayer.

On this Good Shepherd Sunday, it would not go amiss to offer a prayer of thanksgiving for those priests that God has sent your way both now and in the past.

With my blessing,

+Rt Rev Paul Swarbrick

Bishop of Lancaster

3rd Sunday of Easter

‘They recognised him at the breaking of bread.’  In the Emmaus story today, two disciples were going home, discussing the happenings of recent events, striving to make sense of their disappointment of Jesus’ crucifixion.  A man they loved, and with his death, their whole world had collapsed, putting an end to their dreams for the redemption of Israel.  Suddenly, a stranger appeared and joined them, who listened sympathetically to their story, he helped them to see through scripture the full meaning of what had happened.  At every step of their troubled journey Jesus was at their side, but they did not recognise him until the breaking of bread at Emmaus.

Today we are shown an important pattern of the opening up of scripture followed by the breaking of bread.  This pattern becomes so important to the early Church that it becomes the basic pattern of daily Mass for us.  The Liturgy of the Word leading into the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

We feel the presence of Jesus, first by his Words and then again with the very act of the breaking of bread.  This Emmaus account makes clear that Scripture itself points us towards an appreciation of its own unbreakable bond with the Eucharist.  Both are so deeply bound together that we cannot understand one without the other.  The ‘Word of God’ sacramentally takes flesh in the event of the Eucharist.  And the Eucharist opens our understanding of the scriptures, illuminating our minds and hearts. 

We heard the two disciples say to each other ‘didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked to us on the road explaining the scriptures.’  Their ‘eyes were opened’.  We hear the very same three words in Genesis, when Adam and Eve’s ‘eyes were opened’ after disobeying God, after eating of the forbidden fruit in the Garden. 

St Leo the Great comments on this by saying: ‘the eyes of these two men were opened, far more happily to the sight of their own glorified humanity, rather than the eyes of our first parents, to the shame of their sinfulness.’ 

Jesus is once again presented as the ‘New Adam’ who here gives living food to the ‘first meal of the new creation’ at Emmaus.

This Gospel account helps to shed light on our own situation in our times of trial and distress.  How many times have we walked the road to Emmaus with downcast faces, either by having quarrels at homes, difficulties at work, or the loneliness of being rejected.  The troubles and worries of life can crowd our minds that we can lose sense of our direction and we are brought to the point of despair.  All the time forgetting that Jesus is walking beside us, anxious to help, if only we would turn to him in prayer for guidance. 

Since our ransom has been paid in the precious blood of Christ, let us reflect upon how many times the Lord has helped us in our daily lives. 

We prayer to the Lord to continue to show us his love, by letting us see him more clearly by his divine presence.  Through the Liturgy of the Mass, and especially in our own ‘path of life’ comprising of daily readings of scripture and of prayer. 

We ask the Lord, that he will illuminate our minds and hearts on this great mystery of our faith, by making our eyes be opened, and allowing the words of the Apostle Thomas to be upon our lips, as we say: ‘My Lord and my God.’

2nd Sunday of Easter – Divine Mercy Sunday

Jesus said to Thomas ‘Give me your hand, put it into my side, doubt no longer but believe.’  Today we hear the encounter between Jesus and Thomas, the doubting disciple.  We shouldn’t dismiss Thomas as a man of little faith.  Who could really blame him for not believing.  After the events on Good Friday, Thomas had seen the Lord, whom he loved, die the death of a criminal, crucified between two thieves and witnessed Peter denying him three times, even after Peter promised loyalty towards Jesus hours earlier.  Thomas was disheartened, disillusioned and angry, which made him have a harden heart and unwilling to accept the words of others, even about seeing the Risen Lord.

Today is Divine Mercy Sunday, a devotion that was permitted by St. Pope John Paul II after reinvestigating St Faustina’s visions.  St Faustina was a Nun of the ‘Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy’.  On the 22^nd of February 1931, she had a vision from the Lord.  Jesus appeared to her bringing a message of Mercy.  She recalls in her diaries, that Jesus was dressed in white with His right hand raised in blessing, and the other hand touching his heart.  Two large rays came forth from his heart, one red and one white.  This image was painted and the words ‘Jesus, I trust in You’ were written below.  In another vision Saint Faustina was told about the teaching of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, praying for the conversion of sinners throughout the world.

But, let us return back to the image of Christ, especially the ‘side of Christ’, where Thomas placed his hand, and where St Faustina saw two rays of red and white light.  What do we understanding of the importance of Jesus’ pierced side, what can it teach us?  We know that it points to Jesus’ crucifixion when his side was pierced by the Roman Soldier, and Blood and Water gusted forth from his wounded heart.  This is a reminder that life emerges from death, through the Sacraments of the Church.  Blood and Water being Catholic symbols for the Sacraments of Baptism and the Eucharist.

The piercing of Jesus’ side is unique to John’s Gospel, and it fulfils a twofold prophecy.  ‘None of his bones shall be broken, and they will look on the one whom they have pierced.’ 

There is symbol-ism here of Jesus being the New Temple.  There is an ancient document called the Mishnah.  This document explains that there were two drain holes at the south-western corner of the Altar in Jerusalem, this was to drain away all the blood from the sacrificed lambs.  It would have come out of the side of the temple mount, mingled with water flowing down into a stream into the Kidron valley.  For a first century Jew, it would have been a very familiar sight.  John the evangelist would have recognised this parallel link to Jesus’ pierced side when blood and water gushed forth on the cross.  Jesus’ body is now the New Temple.  We hear in Jesus’ own words saying: ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’  The Jewish Temple mount has now been replaced with a New Temple, that is Jesus’ body, that comes forth the Sacraments of the Church. 

We might have doubts in our faith from time to time, but searching for the truth is nothing to be ashamed from.  It helps us grow stronger in our faith.  In many ways Thomas echoes our moments of uncertainty.  Our vision of God gets blurred by clouds of doubt.  But it is only through the Risen Christ that we enter into a personal relationship with him, that allows us to enjoy the New Life which he offers. 

When we have moments of despair and all else seems to fail.  Fall back on your faith, say a prayer similar to:  ‘Jesus I trust in you’, and He will help and support you in your time of need.  ‘Doubt no longer, but believe.’

Easter Sunday

The Resurrection of the Lord

The disciples saw and they believed.  Yes, indeed!  Christ has truly risen.  This is our core profession of faith.  This this the cry of victory that unites us all here today.  Jesus is alive, and therefore who can ever be able to separate us from the Lord?  We will never be deprived of the divine love that conquers all evil, even death itself. 

The Easter proclamation spreads throughout the world today, with joyful song of ‘Alleluia, Alleluia’.  The word that has remained silent all these days during Lent.  Let us now sing it with our full voices, and above all, with our hearts and lives.  Jesus is our hope, He is the true peace of the world.

Reflecting on this Gospel passage today, it brings back memories from various Passion movies that I have watched over the years on TV.  At the end of these movies, the film director seems to get the actor playing Christ to rise from the darkness of the tomb into the bright sunlight, the light shines all-round him, even rays of light beaming through the holes of his hands.  At that moment I say to myself, ‘Yes, He’s back’.

In the Gospel we heard, Mary of Magdalene came to the tomb early on the first day of the week.  Her only thoughts were to see Jesus’ body.  She might have wanted to complete any outstanding tasks on his body, since Jesus’ burial was done in haste, due to the Jewish feast of Passover. 

A time where no work was allowed to be done by law.  Mary’s sole desire was to spend time with Jesus.  I wonder what Mary might have been pondering in her mind, on her journey to the tomb?  What was she thinking about?  It sounded like she had a restless sleep, as she was up so early in the morning.  Very eager to get to the tomb, without any thought about how she was going to roll away the big boulder from the entrance.  Mary’s sole purpose was to be with the Lord. 

To her surprise the boulder was already moved and without looking inside she immediately knew the body of Jesus was not there, then she turned and ran to tell the disciples.

Up until that moment the disciples failed to understand the teaching of scripture, that Christ must rise from the dead.  In the months ahead they would recognise more and more the power of His Resurrection at work in their lives, calling them to live in an entirely new way. 

In a similar fashion, we are also filled with Easter hope as we celebrate and proclaim that Jesus Christ is risen.  What happened on that first Easter day, has implications for us too.  The Resurrection is the central mystery of our redemption.  Christ’s victory breaks all the chains of our sin that we have made for ourselves.

The newness of life is the key message of this Easter season.  It comes about at the start of spring when nature begins to burst forth anew.

In Jesus’ Resurrection, God has had the final word.  Jesus’ life ends in victory and not in defeat.  The doors of Heaven are unlocked for our Salvation. 

We now know, that we have a heavenly home to look forward to, a new vision to focus upon, and eternal truths to shape our way of thinking.  This allows us to take a fresh look life, that we vowed to lead through our Baptismal promises. 

During this Holy Season of Easter, let the Resurrection dwell deeply within our hearts, as we rejoice and praise His Holy Name. 

We are an Easter people and ‘Alleluia’ is our song.

Good Friday

‘The Hour begins.’  Crucifixion was recognised as the lowest point of human humiliation in the Roman empire.  However, Jesus accepted His Cross for the salvation of the world.  His ‘hour’ had come.  The saving power on the Cross was His finest ‘hour’ that opened the doors to paradise.  He was the Lamb, that was led to its slaughter, and who took away the sins of the world. 

St John the Evangelist clearly highlights the ‘Kingship’ of Jesus within the Gospel.  We also see clearly, it is Jesus, the Sovereign Lord, who is in total control over all the events in His Passion.  He possesses the Divine Power, and these events would only happen because He allowed them to happen. 

Through His Kingship we see the freedom with which he goes to the Cross.  We hear in scripture: “No one takes my life from me, but I lay it down on my own.  I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again.”  By freely going to the Cross, Jesus offers His life as a perfect gift of love, given to the Father for the world’s salvation.  Through His obedience, Jesus reveals the infinite depths of the Father’s love and mercy towards us, since we are sinners. 

I would like to focus on three specific elements of interest within the Passion narrative.  The Title on the Cross, the division of Jesus’ garments and the piercing of Jesus’ side.

According to Roman custom a board was carried in front of the condemned person or sometimes it was nailed to the cross itself.  Jesus’ board read.  ‘Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.’ 

It was Pilate who was responsible and took the initiative on writing these words down, making Pilate declare Jesus’ royal status to the whole world.  The Title board was written in Hebrew, Latin and Greek, the three great nation languages in the Roman empire.  So, it is interesting that the greatest nation in the world, should claim Jesus, King.

However, there might be a special hidden meaning that we are missing?  Since many of the Jews were there at the place of crucifixion, near the city walls, everybody had the chance of reading the Title board and to understand it.  Scholars have wondered, was God giving everyone a last chance, to understand Jesus’ offer of salvation, as King of the Jews?

The division of Jesus’ garments and the seamless tunic.  St John the evangelist goes into great detail on the sharing of Jesus’ garments.  Every Jew wore five items of clothing, however, there were only four soldiers.  The main item was a long under garment which was worn next to the body.  Described as being without seam and woven from top to bottom.  In the book of Exodus and Leviticus it says that this type of seamless garment was only worn by the high priests.  So, John the Evangelist was pointing to Jesus not only as King but also as eternal High Priest of the Church.

The Piercing of Jesus’ side.  This is unique to John’s Passion Narrative.  One of the soldiers thrust a lance into Jesus’ side.  In doing so a twofold prophecy was fulfilled.  The ‘Passover Lamb’ in Exodus: ‘None of his bones shall be broken’ and the ‘Pierced Messiah’ in Zechariah ‘They will look on the one whom they have pierced’. 

With Water & Blood being signs of the Sacraments of Baptism and the Eucharist.  There is also another important symbol here, that points to Jesus being the ‘New Temple’.  During the 1^st century AD when Jews approached the temple mount at the time of Passover, when the sacrifices were being offered around 3pm, they would see a stream of blood and water flowing out from the side of the temple mount and down into the Kidron Valley.  This would have been a familiar image in the mindset of the 1^st century Jew.  The Evangelist would have recognised the sign of Jesus’ body, when water and blood flowed from His side as the ‘New Temple of God.’  ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’  It is not the Temple in Jerusalem that will flow with blood sacrifices any longer, but it has been replaced with a new temple by the crucified body of Jesus.

So, let us today, take to heart the true meaning of Jesus’ Passion and Death, it isn’t the time to be sad or down-hearted.  Since it was Jesus’ finest ‘hour’, His ultimate Glorification and Exaltation of the Son of Man, in order to save the world and bring us into Eternal Glory.