📖 Short Homily – The Resurrection of the Lord: Easter Sunday Mass

Theme: “He Is Risen—So Rise With Him!”
Readings: Acts 10:34a, 37–43 | Psalm 118 | Colossians 3:1–4 | 1 Corinthians 5:6b–8 | John 20:1–9
Jubilee Year Theme: “Hope Does Not Disappoint” (Romans 5:5)


🌅 This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad!

Today is not just the remembrance of something past—it is the celebration of something present. Christ is risen! And with His rising, our hope rises, too.

We don't just celebrate the empty tomb. We celebrate a filled heart—a life touched by resurrection.

😂 A young boy once shouted during Mass, “Father, where is Jesus now?”

The priest smiled and said, “He’s risen.”
The boy responded, “Then why do people still look like Lent?”
Let today be the day your face learns to smile with resurrection joy!

📖 In John 20, Mary Magdalene and the disciples discover an empty tomb. But it’s not just a mystery—it’s a message:

“He saw and believed.”

The resurrection demands not just eyesight but insight. Peter and John saw linen cloths, but faith saw a risen Saviour.

Acts 10 reminds us that Jesus “went about doing good” and was killed—but God raised Him up. This is the Gospel: suffering does not have the last word—resurrection does.

Colossians and 1 Corinthians call us to rise, too—not just from the grave, but from bitterness, sin, and fear. We are Easter people. Let us clean out the old yeast, as Paul says, and live with new sincerity and truth.

✝️ Eucharist

At this altar, we do not merely remember a dead hero. We encounter the Risen Christ.
Every “Alleluia” we sing, every host we receive, is a declaration:
Death is defeated. Hope is alive. Jesus walks with us.

❓ Question for Reflection

  • What in my life needs resurrection?
  • Where have I stopped believing that change is possible?

🛠️ Daily Practical Application

  • Share your Easter joy with someone who feels forgotten.

  • Let your actions today speak louder than your words—bring life, not complaints.

  • Forgive someone. Start over. Let go of old yeast.

💔 You might be thinking, “How can I rejoice when I’m struggling?”

Remember—Jesus rose not from comfort but from a cross.
He meets you where you are. Resurrection doesn’t mean life is perfect.
It means God is present in the imperfection—and He will lift you up.

🕊️ What Can I Do During the Jubilee Year?

  • Be a witness of hope in your home, parish, or community.

  • Support a new initiative or join a resurrection project (youth group, soup kitchen, prayer ministry).

  • Renew your baptismal commitment—live your faith with Easter courage.

🇿🇦 In our beloved country, we have seen tombs of division, poverty, and injustice.

But we’ve also seen signs of resurrection: new leaders, young changemakers, faith communities rising.
Let the cry of “He is Risen!” echo in every township and suburb, every village and city.
South Africa lives because Christ lives!

💬 Inspiration Quote

“The stone was rolled away—not so Jesus could get out, but so we could enter into a new life.”

🧭 Pilgrims of Hope

We are not just followers. We are pilgrims of hope.
We walk, we fall, we rise again. Because our Saviour walks ahead of us.
Let the empty tomb be your invitation—rise, and keep walking.

🙏 Risen Lord,

You shattered the darkness with Your light.
Roll away every stone in my life.
Let me rise with You in faith, in joy, and in hope.
In this Jubilee Year,
make me a witness to the power of resurrection
in my family, my community, and my nation.
Amen. Alleluia!

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