He Is Hope Itself

But God raised him up, releasing him from the throes of death, because it was impossible for him to be held by it. // Acts 2:24

As I scrolled through Instagram, I saw countless happy Easter posts with smiling faces, family dinners, and Easter frivolity. I knew the Easter Octave (the eight days of Easter) was a time of particular joy, but I could not muster any. Most of the Easter celebrations in my life have been happy ones, but there were other Easters when heavy crosses—miscarriages, serious illness, deaths of loved ones—made it hard for me to be joyful.

That is why I love this passage from today’s First Reading so much: “But God raised him up, releasing him from the throes of death, because it was impossible for him to be held by it” (Acts 2:24).

When we ponder the life of Jesus and see how much He suffered at the end of it, we can’t help but feel heaviness and sorrow. However, not even death could hold Jesus down. He is Hope itself as He conquered death and now leads us to eternal life.

So if you are struggling to find joy this Easter season, let us look to the radiance of the Resurrected Jesus. Let Him bring light to the darkness shadowing your heart. Together let’s ask Him to breathe new life and hope into our circumstances and touch our lives with joy.

And if you are enjoying the beauty of the season without any major worries, reach out to someone in need and be a ray of hope in their life.

Jesus, whether we are experiencing the felicity of the Easter season or struggling through it, fill our hearts with Your love and hope. Strengthen us in our weakness and renew our love and trust in You. Amen.

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