| JOHN 20: 19-31 |
How would you feel if you built a high tower using wooden blocks and someone came along and knocked it down? Sometimes, little sisters or brothers don’t realise how much work you have put into such a project. You may feel angry. You may feel sad. You may think, “I’ll just build it up again.”
Building a sand castle on the beach and washing it away by a wave is a similar experience. You feel the loss when something of yours is destroyed or taken away. We all have those feelings when something like that happens to us.
We read in the Bible about Mary Magdalene, who felt great sadness when Jesus died. The death of someone we love is a very great loss. We are told that “Mary was standing outside at the tomb (where Jesus had been buried) weeping” (20:11).
When she turned around, she saw someone standing there and thought it was the gardener, but when he called “Mary” (20:16), she understood it was Jesus. Jesus had been resurrected.
BACK TO THE BEGINNING
Jesus’s life started humbly, He was born to a just-married couple, a young woman and her older husband–away from home–in a stable–hardly what you would expect for the birth of the King of Kings.
Then they had to flee to Egypt–to flee Herod’s wrath–to flee Herod, the madman– We could certainly think of Jesus’ journey to Egypt as a detour in the grand plan of his life – BUT IT FULFILLED PROPHECY
Then Jesus grew up in Nazareth, a small town where not much happened–far from Jerusalem–far from the temple.- WHICH FULFILLED PROPHECY
Then he travelled around Galilee, mostly by foot, teaching and healing. His work excited people, but it would be stretching things to think that he would have any impact beyond Israel’s borders.
And then Jesus went to Jerusalem. We talk about Jerusalem as The Holy City–and it was. It was the home of the temple. It’s where the holy men lived–the chief priests–the scribes–the Pharisees.
But for Jesus, Jerusalem would be a place of death, WHICH FULFILLED THE PROPHECY
The scribes and the Pharisees begin to challenge him–to try to trip him up. Finally, they decide to kill him.
And they succeeded. They get the crowd to support them and force Pilate to do their bidding. Before long, Jesus was hanging on a cross. By the end of the day, he is dead and buried, and his enemies are rid of him forever.
THE WORLD CHANGED FOREVER
But three days later, the tomb is empty, and Jesus is back alive again, appearing to Mary Magdalene, the disciples, and Thomas. The lurches and detours of his life led Jesus exactly to the place where God wanted him to be.
But God was present with Jesus through every lurch and detour. God had a plan for his life, and Jesus lived out that plan. That’s the reason the world is celebrating.
God’s plan for Jesus included many detours. It even included the cross–but it didn’t stop with the cross. It moved from the cross to the open tomb–from death to resurrection.
As a result, people in every nation under the sun are celebrating Jesus–celebrating his death and resurrection–celebrating his victory over the grave–celebrating that he conquered death, not only for himself but also for us.
And God was behind Jesus, who moved through a series of detours that seemed to end with the cross, but that really ended with the resurrection.
And God is behind your life and mine. We, too, experience detours. We, too, have successes and failures–wins and losses–ups and downs.
Sometimes, those detours are in accord with God’s plan. Sometimes, he leads us over rough roads to get us where we need to go.
But sometimes, we choose to go off on our own–to ignore God. Sometimes, we create our own pain. Each of us, at some time, is our own worst enemy.
Sometimes, we have the misfortune of working with someone or living next door to someone who makes life difficult.
Life is Not Always Easy,
But the Good News is that God is with us even when the pathway is rough. God is with us through good times and bad–through win or lose–through up and down.
God is there, shepherding us–nudging us toward the light–illuminating the path that leads to life. God has a plan for our lives, just as he had a plan for Jesus.
The Easter season is a wonderful time for celebration. It’s a time to decorate the church with lilies–to sing the grand Easter hymns.
But it’s also a time to remember that when faced with the detours of life, God is with us. God is working behind the scenes to redeem our lives. God is helping us. God is showing us the way to the road that leads to life.
SONG- The Day of Resurrection
“The Day of Resurrection” is an ancient hymn. St. John of Damascus of the Greek Orthodox Church wrote the words.
John was born in Damascus in the 8th century and was engaged in secular work for many years. He became an Orthodox priest late in life and spent the rest of his life at St. Sabas convent near Jerusalem. He was a gifted poet –the greatest poet of the Greek Church.
The story is told of John writing a hymn for the funeral of a fellow monk–a monk not yet dead but at death’s doorstep. After writing the hymn John started practicing it loudly. The next thing he knew, the dying monk came shuffling into the room to protest the unseemly noise.
This hymn, “The Day of Resurrection,” was part of a much longer poem. John Mason Neale translated it into English in the 19th century–a thousand years after it was first written.
The first verse calls us to celebrate the resurrection–to proclaim it abroad. The second verse calls us to live lives pure from evil–to live, as it were, resurrection lives. The third verse calls all the heavens and earth to be joyful–to sing–to proclaim a joy that has no end.
Remember that Jesus Loves You
Paula Rose Parish
If this article has helped you in a small way, it will help me if you, please follow, share, subscribe, and comment- it’s all Free!
Affiliate Link: Got a YouTube channel? To Get More Views and Subscribers, click this link to get your free TubeBuddy today. https://www.Tubebuddy.com/pricing?a=Wellness4Women
Whether you’re a devout Catholic, a seeker exploring your faith, or simply curious about the spiritual journeys of others, your presence here is cherished. The “Almost Catholic” channel documents my pilgrimage and invites you to journey alongside me. Together, we can pray, reflect, and encourage each other as we navigate the mysterious and beautiful path of faith.
For helpful articles on converting from Protestantism to Catholicism and videos,
https://www.youtube.com/@AlmostCatholic824
If you wish to connect with me, please do so at paularoseparish@gmail.com
💕Want to help support me as an author? My books are available at AMAZON.
📚Psalm 23 Unwrapped: Hope in Difficult Times.
Statement of Faith
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, Maker of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial
of one Being with the Father. Through him, all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
almostcatholic.blog 
Thanks for your Visit Here, feel free to leave a comment 💟