Lent Journey - 2016Sample

EASTER SUNDAY DAILY THOUGHT: RISING WITH CHRIST (PHILIPPIANS 3:10) Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! This Easter greeting reminds us that God’s action in raising Christ from the grave is the bottom line of our faith. This is staggering good news. No faith would be more tragic, no belief more futile, than Christianity without its risen Lord. The resurrection has many meanings for our lives today. Jesus is present with us as our living Friend. He is available to each one of us in our struggles with despair and hopelessness. Death has been defeated. Above all, we too can rise with him into new life if we are willing to die with him. May the words of Paul be our prayer today: “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death…” (Philippians 3:10) DAILY PRACTICE: Begin with the daily prayer request. Commit the above verse above to memory. Spend today in as celebrative way as possible. The circumstances of your life may make this very difficult, especially if you have suffered loss recently. Still, as you are able, enter into the joy of the risen Lord. Wear bright clothes, greet others warmly, enjoy special meals, offer a toast to the power of God over the grave, make contact with family and friends and give thanks for them. Celebrate the mystery of our faith: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again! We are Easter people living in a Good Friday world.