Jesus Christ the Fullness of Life

Deacon Peter Kingsley’s Reflection on the Word – JCFL Prayer Vigil, 1st May, 2014

In the readings we have just heard from the Word of God – the Word of Compassion, the Word of Truth and the Word of Eternal Life – the God of our Salvation calls us to reflect: to reflect and give thanks for the God who Counsels us along the path of justice and peace; to reflect and give thanks for the God who in Christ gives us His precious blood and restores us to a right relationship with our Heavenly Father by taking our sins and iniquities upon Himself on the Cross of our Salvation; to reflect and give thanks for the enormous gift of His Word and the Bread of Life revealed to us anew on the Road to Emmaus.

In the New Testament Reading we hear the Lord telling us, “You know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish of defect”

We know “all that glitters is not gold” and we know we are given that daily choice to either follow the True Light of Christ or follow the false light of Lucifer. We know, the Prince of Lies, the Deceiver, Tempter, will not lure us with what is ugly but with what glitters – money, power, sex. However, when we follow the way of Satan and his empty promises, we soon get trapped in a life of sin, with the darkness and sadness that accompanies it. Yes, anew today in this liturgy, as we did on Easter night, we renounce Satan and all his wicked scheming and say Yes to Christ forgiving us, taking the darkness of our sins upon Himself. He alone is the innocent and beautiful lamb of our redemption healing us by His life-giving sacrifice on the Cross, offering us, and every human being without exception, a new life in His presence each and every moment of every day.

In the Gospel Reading the disciples on the Road to Emmaus have their eyes opened to recognize the presence of the Risen Lord in their midst.

We, too, are invited to celebrate in the victory of Christ over death. The temptation, the abandonment of his disciples, the rejection of those whom he loved, the betrayal, the lies, the bitterness, the envy of the Pharisees and Teachers of the Law. None of these has the last word. No not even death itself has any power over the Lord of Life. He has Risen!

We thank God for opening our eyes to the presence of the Risen Christ – the God of Joy and Peace who longs for His People to be with Him – speaking to us through the Word of Life we have just received and silently present in the Bread of Life we now adore. Jesus, God of Compassion and Truth, we trust You, heal us by your presence, teach us by your spirit and forever be the source of our humanity so that, with you, we can enter your Kingdom of Justice & Peace. Amen.