The Culture of Easter is Courage
22nd April: Acts 4:13-21; Mk 16: 9-15
The culture of Easter is courage -it was born of the courage that Jesus showed in obeying God the Father without reserve and Jesus passes on the same courage to his disciples too. One of the clear proofs of Easter is the Courage that we see in the disciples, who were till then frightened and lost, timid and trembling but suddenly became so vociferous and invincible, outspoken and uncontrollable. What made that difference? The Empty Tomb is only an indication to what could have happened but the Courage of the disciples is the concrete proof of something extraordinary which had taken place.
I am fond of making this contrast arising from the scene where Peter (along with John) speaks up to the rulers and elders vis-a-vis the scene on that maundy thursday night at the courtyard where he fumbled and fell so low in front of a mere servant maid! He who said in fear, I dont know the Jesus you are talking about, says today, I cannot stop proclaiming Jesus just because you command me to. Where did this extraordinary courage come from - that was in response to the command of the Risen Lord: go out to the whole world and proclaim good news to all creation. A new culture had been born, a culture of total fidelity and unlimited courage.
The invitation for us today, is to feel this courage redoubling amidst crisis situations and tempting moments. Can we feel the unfailing presence of the Risen Lord with us, that we may live upto this culture of courage!
I am fond of making this contrast arising from the scene where Peter (along with John) speaks up to the rulers and elders vis-a-vis the scene on that maundy thursday night at the courtyard where he fumbled and fell so low in front of a mere servant maid! He who said in fear, I dont know the Jesus you are talking about, says today, I cannot stop proclaiming Jesus just because you command me to. Where did this extraordinary courage come from - that was in response to the command of the Risen Lord: go out to the whole world and proclaim good news to all creation. A new culture had been born, a culture of total fidelity and unlimited courage.
The invitation for us today, is to feel this courage redoubling amidst crisis situations and tempting moments. Can we feel the unfailing presence of the Risen Lord with us, that we may live upto this culture of courage!
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