Catholic Commission for Social Justice
Gospel: Jn 20:19-31
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
By Mike James
In Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana, countries with significant proportions of populations which trace roots back to Africa and India, the issue of racial equality and rights has recently become a hot topic of debate (again).
Gospel: Jn 20:1-9
On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning,
while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.” So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.
“Resurrexi et adhuc tecum sum – I arose, and am still with you; you have set your hand upon me.”
On behalf of members of CCSJ, I wish you all a happy and holy Easter. Christ has risen, Alleluia! Let us say like St Augustine: “We are an Easter people, and Alleluia is our song.”
Today we celebrate the most important event in the history of humankind – the resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ. The resurrection is central to our faith as Catholics. By rising from the dead, Jesus freed us from original sin. That is what we call “radical love”. As today’s Psalm 118 says, the Lord’s “steadfast love endures forever.”
Passion according to Matthew 27, 11 – 54
Jesus stood before the governor, Pontius Pilate, who questioned him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You say so.” And when he was accused by the chief priests and elders,
he made no answer. Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they are testifying against you?” But he did not answer him one word, so that the governor was greatly amazed. Now on the occasion of the feast the governor was accustomed to release to the crowd one prisoner whom they wished. And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas.