9 April, Sunday — Beyond death

Easter Sunday

Acts 10:34,37-43
Col 3:1-4
Jn 20:1-9

…he must rise from the dead.

Death, to me, is the ultimate hurdle, and I certainly have thought of my own death at various points in my life. 

One of the most significant times was when my father was told he had a serious illness. He had cautioned me then, asking me to be cautious about my health given that my grandfather, too, had the same illness. His words came to me when he passed.

When I entered my forties, I had a major crisis. I compared myself with my friends and felt wholly inadequate. While I was married to a wonderful woman and had two lovely children, I had not made a significant dent in my career. Thoughts of what my father had told me (about falling sick) and a couple of my friends’ passing made me anxious about “making a difference” before my time on Earth was up. 

These thoughts about my fears of insignificance and death stem from uncertainty about the future. These made me feel afraid of everything that was to come and of the feeling that I did not have any control over it.

Yet, I had forgotten that the solution to this fear lies in scripture. 

In the readings of today, we see witnesses testifying to Jesus’ resurrection, proof that death has been conquered. We read of Peter talking about his eating and drinking with Him and of how he and “the other disciple” found Jesus’ face cloth (from the tomb) nicely rolled up.

On Easter, we also learn what is to become of the ultimate hurdle in life — our deaths. In Jesus’ resurrection, we see a similar path for us. What about the other difficulties we face if death is to be defeated? With Easter, we learn to be optimistic, hopeful, and thankful people!

Have a wonderful, blessed, and hopeful Easter, everyone!

(Today’s OXYGEN by Paul Wee)

Prayer: Teach us, Father, to be hopeful and optimistic people, Father! Help us always to remember to turn to You in good and in challenging times. 

Thanksgiving: Thank you for sending Your son, Jesus, to die for our sins. Thank you for conquering death through the Resurrection.