Seeing the Risen One…

Celebrating The Fourth Sunday Of Easter.
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI said, “Not everyone saw the Risen Christ. Why not? Why did he not go in triumph to the Pharisees and to Pilate to show them He was alive and let them touch his scars? Because the Risen One cannot be like a piece of carved wood or stone. He can only be seen by the one to whom He can entrust with a mission. He does not reveal himself to curiosity but to love.” This is why St. Peter in this weeks first reading has to explain that it is Christ who is responsible for the healing of the crippled man. That is why St. John reminds us that we are called the children of God and as such the world does not know us (because it did/does not know Him).
As we traverse the dusty roads of early resurrection with the various followers of Christ, we might forget how dangerously misunderstood our first Christian brothers and sisters were. We might not even realize how blessed we are to live in a land where we can freely worship Jesus. Do you know the first 30 popes were all martyred (over a 300 year period)? It wasn’t fun being a Christian back then. Even in this weeks gospel, The Lord Himself explains that He is The Good Shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep. We too are called to do the same.
In his recent apostolic exhortation, Pope Francis (our current shepherd), reminds us that we are all called to holiness and that we are to live it out in our present state. If we are religious, we should be holy religious, if we are laymen and women we should be holy laymen and women. There is no restriction, no excuse, no vacation from this vocation. By doing the small things in our lives in holy ways, whether it be driving to the store, or picking up the kids, or going to school or working in the office….we desperately need to manifest the love of Our father, for we are His children and Jesus has laid down His life for us. In order to be faithful to this commitment He is preparing us for His Power, His Spirit, His Love, so that filled with this Spirit we might give ourselves COMPLETELY to Him.