Easter Tuesday
Acts 2:36-41
Jn 20:11-18
“…you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise that was made is for you and your children, and for all those who are far away, for all those whom the Lord our God will call to himself.”…they accepted what he said and were baptized.
For the believers, Easter is such a magical event.
Every Easter — since I joined the RCIA ministry — is a strong reminder of my own baptism. It’s also been a real privilege and so much joy to witness the enquirers turned catechumens, to elects and finally neophytes. My own RCIA journey 25 years ago went by in a blur. Perhaps that’s why I’ve been called back to RCIA — though to serve; but at the same time, to refresh what I have learnt about the Catholic faith.
To be baptised is to be gifted with the Holy Spirit who is our aide, our counsel, and our guide. I didn’t get what the Holy Spirit really means until much later. As said in 1 Corinthians 12:2-7, “You know that at one time you we unbelievers,” but the Holy Spirit helps to draw us closer to our heavenly Father. To do that, there are gifts of the Holy Spirit “all given to believers by the same Spirit. There are different ways to serve. But they all come from the same Lord. There are different ways the Spirit works. But the same God is working in all these ways and in all people. The Holy Spirit is given to each of us in a special way. That is for the good of all.”
I’d like to think that it is also the Holy Spirit that helped me ‘see’ and ‘hear’ the Lord, just as it helped Mary Magdalene, who “went and announced to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord’” (John 20:18). We need the Holy Spirit to help us see the Lord, so that we can go out and be witnesses. I am not talking about physically seeing Jesus, but the opening up of my mind and heart to understanding and above all, believing. “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” (John 20:29) Why I am able to believe 101 percent is not because I saw Jesus with my own eyes (unlike Mary Magdalene), but I saw what he has been doing in my life, how he’s been answering my prayers and changing my heart. For some, this is what they call an encounter with the Lord.
Like his disciples on the morning of his resurrection, I hope to be able to go out and share with more people my many God experiences. I can’t ever imagine going back to a life without Jesus ever again. Faith is truly a precious gift from God, and I feel especially blessed to be chosen by him to be called his daughter, to be a part of his holy family. Let’s pray that more people will come to experience this amazing experience of knowing Jesus. After all, we are called Easter people who believe that the resurrection of Jesus (the belief in the living God) means he will walk with us through every disappointment, suffering and even death, so that we can be transformed into new life.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Cynthia Chew)
Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, come into our lives to show us that you are truly our living God. Touch the hearts of many who have yet to know you. Amen.
Thanksgiving: Thank you, Abba Father, for choosing me and the many believers to become your sons and daughters. Above all, thank you for loving us so much that you sent your only son as a sacrifice for our sins.
OXYGEN 
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