Today’s first reading reminded me of St. John Paul II’s famous quote: “We are an Easter people and Alleluia is our song!” What brought this to mind is the fact that the disciples were encouraged to proclaim the Good News: “After the reading of the the law and the prophets, the synagogue officials sent word to them, ‘My brothers, if one of you has a word of exhortation for the people, please speak.’”
It is not often that we see religious leaders in a good light in Scripture, but here they extend an invitation to Paul and his companions. They were an Easter people too, and they had so much to share! Paul got up and reminded the people of God’s promise and proclaimed Jesus as savior, a descendent of King David and heralded by John the Baptist.
What about us? Do we take to heart our role as Easter people? Do we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us as to when we should speak and what we should say? Do we share the Good News with others unashamedly? Or do we ignore that gentle nudge inside us that asks us to “please speak,” whether it be in word or action?
In the Gospel Jesus reminds us that “whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.” This Easter season, let us allow others to receive Jesus through us. May we be beacons of light, sharers of hope, and givers of love. And may Alleluia be our song.
La primera lectura de hoy me recordó la famosa cita de San Juan Pablo II: “¡Somos un pueblo de Pascua y Aleluya es nuestro cántico!” Lo que me hizo pensar en esto es el hecho de que los discípulos fueron animados a proclamar la Buena Nueva: “Acabada la lectura de la ley y los profetas, los jefes de la sinagoga les mandaron decir: ‘Hermanos, si tienen alguna exhortación que hacer al pueblo, hablen’”.
No es frecuente que veamos a los líderes religiosos bajo una luz positiva en las Escrituras, pero aquí extienden una invitación a Pablo y sus compañeros. Ellos también eran un pueblo de Pascua, ¡y tenían mucho que compartir! Pablo se levantó y recordó al pueblo la promesa de Dios y proclamó a Jesús como salvador, descendiente del rey David y anunciado por Juan el Bautista.
¿Y nosotros? ¿Tomamos en serio nuestro papel como pueblo de Pascua? ¿Permitimos que el Espíritu Santo nos guíe en cuanto a cuándo debemos hablar y qué debemos decir? ¿Compartimos la Buena Nueva con los demás sin vergüenza? ¿O ignoramos esa suave invitación interior que nos pide que “hablemos”, ya sea con palabras o con acciones?
En el Evangelio, Jesús nos recuerda que “el que recibe al que yo envío, me recibe a mí; y el que me recibe a mí, recibe al que me ha enviado”. En esta temporada de Pascua, permitamos que otros reciban a Jesús a través de nosotros. Seamos faros de luz, portadores de esperanza y dadores de amor. Y que Aleluya sea nuestro cántico.
Tami Urcia is a midwestern gal from a large Catholic family. As a young adult she was a missionary in Mexico, where she studied theology and philosophy. After returning stateside bilingual, she gained a variety of work experience, traveled extensively and finished her Bachelor’s Degree at Brescia University. She loves organizing and simplifying things, watching her children play sports, deep conversations with close family and friends and finding unique ways to brighten others’ day with Christ’s love. She works full time at Diocesan in the Software Department and manages the Inspiration Daily reflections. She is also a contributing writer on CatholicMom.com and BlessedIsShe.net.
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