Easter Sunday Mass of the Resurrection

Devotional

Day 1: The Foundation of Our Faith is the Risen Christ

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of our faith and the basis for God's plan of salvation for the world. It is a historical fact that a new day and a new age dawned upon the world that first Easter morning. This event is not merely a past occurrence but a present reality, as Jesus is alive now and forever. His victory over sin and death is the source of our hope and the foundation upon which we build our lives. This truth invites us into a deeper, more personal faith. [37:14]

“He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.” (Matthew 28:6 NIV)

Reflection: In what specific area of your life do you most need to be reminded that Jesus is alive and active right now? How might embracing this truth change your perspective or actions today?

Day 2: Jesus Conquered All Oppressive Powers

Through his death and resurrection, Jesus Christ brought an end to the old order of sin, sickness, and death. He shattered the oppressive rule of demonic forces and triumphed over hell itself. The earth itself trembled at the magnitude of this victory, signaling the dawn of a new creation. His power, which healed every disease and cast out every demon, is the same power that raised him from the dead. This complete and total victory is the inheritance he offers to all who follow him. [39:53]

“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:13-14 NIV)

Reflection: Where do you feel the lingering effects of the “old order” in your life or in the world around you? How can you actively rely on Christ’s victory to bring his light into that darkness?

Day 3: God Initiates a Personal Invitation to Relationship

The ultimate goal of Christ’s work is to bring us into a close, intimate relationship with the Father. This is not a distant, formal arrangement but a personal invitation to communion. God himself is the initiator of this relationship, reaching out to us with love and grace. He knows you completely and receives you fully, exactly as you are. He desires to satisfy your deepest longings with his loving presence and to convince you of his reality through a personal encounter. [43:14]

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1 NIV)

Reflection: What hesitations or barriers do you sense within yourself when you consider the idea of an intimate, personal relationship with God the Father? What is one small step you could take to respond to his invitation today?

Day 4: We Are Called Beloved Sons and Daughters

Jesus’s passion and resurrection were for the purpose of making us sons and daughters of the same Father. This new identity is not as servants or distant disciples, but as beloved children. We are invited to live in sweet communion with the Father, sharing in the same relationship Jesus enjoys. This standing allows us to call him “Abba,” a term of endearment, closeness, and reverential love. It is a relationship of security, belonging, and eternal love. [44:54]

“The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’” (Romans 8:15 NIV)

Reflection: How would your day-to-day life be different if you lived with the full security and confidence of being a beloved son or daughter of God? What one thought or fear keeps you from fully resting in that identity?

Day 5: Actively Seek the Closeness God Offers

Closeness with the Father is a dynamic, growing relationship that we are invited to actively pursue. He will not force intimacy upon us but awaits our response to his open arms. This pursuit can be nurtured through prayer, especially in moments like receiving Communion or praying the Our Father. At every Mass, the Father himself presents Jesus to us, eager to embrace us and bestow his grace. He craves this relationship and eagerly pours out his blessings for this very purpose. [48:20]

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7 NIV)

Reflection: What is one practical way you can “seek” and “knock” this week to create more space for intimacy with God? Is there a specific prayer, worship song, or spiritual practice that could help you draw nearer to him?

Sermon Summary

The gospel account unfolds a decisive dawn: an angel rolls back the stone, declares the crucified one risen, and sends the women to bear the news. The risen Jesus meets them, invites homage, and commissions them to tell his brothers to go to Galilee, signaling both vindication and a continuing mission. The resurrection stands as the hinge of salvation—Christ’s victory over sin, sickness, death, and demonic power opens a new age and offers the merits of his death and rising to all who turn and receive new life. The narrative emphasizes visible encounter: the women see, hear, and touch the risen Lord, confirming that the empty tomb translates into present, sensory reality.

Scripture frames the resurrection as the beginning of new creation. Earth itself trembles twice—at death and at rising—marking the end of the old order and the inauguration of God’s reign. The anointing of Jesus with the Holy Spirit equips him to forgive, heal, and cast out every affliction, and most decisively to rise from death. That power becomes a gift: the risen one invites others into participation in his life, not merely as followers but as sons and daughters who can call God “Abba.”

Intimacy with the Father forms the end toward which salvation moves. The risen Lord makes relationship possible; the invitation to call God “Abba” carries both affection and reverence, a bold closeness grounded in adoption. The liturgy and the Eucharist enact that dynamic—God presents the glorified Son to the faithful so they might be shaped as children in communion with the Father. Those estranged from the Church or from God receive special assurance: the Father seeks them out and welcomes return, ready to forgive and to restore.

Finally, the liturgical call to renew baptismal vows and to speak a simple prayer of repentance and trust models how one steps into this new life. The resurrection summons a lived response: belief, conversion, and a sustained pursuit of deeper friendship with God that reshapes identity and mission in the world.

Key Takeaways

1. Resurrection rewrites human reality The empty tomb does not merely prove a miracle; it discloses a new order that redefines what it means to live. Death no longer holds final sway, and sin’s dominion meets radical disruption. That change creates a present hope that reorients every relationship, work, and fear toward God’s new creation. [37:14]
2. Jesus' power restores and heals The anointing with the Holy Spirit equips Christ to forgive, heal every disease, and overthrow oppressive spiritual forces. Those acts signal a comprehensive restoration—moral, bodily, and spiritual—that the risen Lord intends to share with those who turn to him. Healing thus connects to mercy and the reconstitution of wholeness under God’s reign. [37:36]
3. Creation itself proclaims newness Nature’s response—earthquakes at death and at rising—frames the resurrection as cosmic, not merely personal. The trembling earth signals the passing of an old age and the birth of a renewed creation under God’s rule. Belief in the resurrection invites participation in that cosmic renewal, affecting how life and history are read. [39:37]
4. Adoption into Abba’s family Calling others “brothers” reveals a deeper reality: incorporation into the Father’s household as sons and daughters. That status permits intimate address—Abba—combining tender nearness with reverent obedience and secure belonging. Adoption changes identity, vocation, and intimacy with God itself. [45:29]
5. Return and receive immediate welcome The Father’s heart leans toward those who have drifted away; return meets reception, not condemnation. Simple acts of repentance and trust open doors to reconciliation, healing, and reintegration into the life of the Church. The liturgy invites a spoken yes that aligns the heart with the risen Lord’s restoring work. [49:54]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[34:03] - Gospel: Empty Tomb
[34:49] - Angel's Announcement
[36:41] - Core Claim: Christ Is Lord
[37:36] - Anointing: Power to Heal
[39:37] - Earth Trembles: New Creation
[44:40] - From Disciples to Children
[48:07] - Eucharist: Father’s Embrace
[49:38] - Invitation to Return Home
[50:12] - Spoken Prayer and Renewal
[51:14] - Call to Deeper Faith
[59:47] - Intercessions and Closing Prayers

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading
Matthew 28:1–10 (ESV)
Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

Observation questions

What specific instructions did the angel give to the women at the tomb?
How did the women physically respond when they encountered the risen Jesus? [43:44]
What change in language did Jesus use when referring to his disciples? [44:40]
How did creation respond to both Jesus’ death and resurrection? [39:37]

Interpretation questions

Why might Jesus refer to his disciples as “brothers” after his resurrection instead of using another term?
How does the resurrection of Jesus rewrite what it means to be human and confront the power of sin and death?
In what ways does the idea of “Abba Father” combine intimacy with reverence? [46:00]
Why is the empty tomb more than just proof of a miracle? [37:14]

Application questions

Jesus’ resurrection means death no longer has the final say. How might this truth change the way you face fear, suffering, or grief this week?
Jesus invites us to call God “Abba”—a term of intimate belonging. What would it look like for you to approach God with both tenderness and reverence in your prayers? [45:43]
The Father’s heart is especially turned toward those who feel distant from Him. If you’ve been away from God or the church, what is one step you could take this week to return? [49:38]
The women were sent to tell others the good news. Who is one person in your life that needs to hear the hope of the resurrection, and how could you share it with them?
The liturgy and Eucharist are meant to draw us deeper into relationship with the Father. How can you participate more intentionally in worship to experience God’s embrace? [48:07]
Renewing baptismal vows is a way to reaffirm our faith. What does it look like for you to “speak a simple yes” to Jesus in your daily life? [50:52]
The resurrection isn’t just a past event—it reshapes our present identity. How does knowing you are a son or daughter of God change the way you see yourself and your purpose?

Sermon Clips

54s

#JesusPower

“Power? What kind of power? Power to forgive. Power to heal every disease and malady that people experience no matter the affliction. He healed them all, every single person. Power to cast out demons and end their oppressive rule. And most of all, power to rise from the dead. It was a power no one else ever had or ever will have. And the good news that Jesus wants to share the merits of his death and rising with all who turn from their old life separated from God to receive the new life that only he can offer.”

57s

#JesusIsLord

“Well, brothers and sisters, if someone would ask me, go sum up the entire new testament, what would you say? Well, here's what I've got. Jesus Christ is Lord. He is risen from the dead. Accept, believe and follow him and you can gain eternal life. Hallelujah. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the foundation of our faith and the foundation of God's plan to save our world. Today, we immerse ourselves more deeply in this truth and turn our attentions attention to what God is inviting us to this Easter.”

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Easter Sunday Mass of the Resurrection - April 5, 2026