By Bishop of Bunbury, George Kolodziej SDS
My dear friends
Christ is risen! Alleluia!
We are witnesses, called to share what we have found in Christ!
In the Acts of the Apostles on Easter Sunday, we hear St Peter proclaim with great conviction: “We are witnesses.” (Acts 10:39). These words capture something central about Easter.
After the crucifixion, the disciples were afraid and uncertain. Their hopes were shattered. But, everything changed when they encountered the risen Lord. Fear gave way to courage, despair gave way to hope, and those very same disciples went out into the world proclaiming the good news that Jesus is very much alive!
The disciples witnessed Jesus’ resurrection, and became witnesses who shared this good news with others.
We live in a society shaped by Christian tradition, and we think that everyone knows the story of the Resurrection, and yet, the Church celebrates Easter every year. Why the repetition? It is so we have the opportunity to witness the Risen Lord and in turn we become witnesses to his Good News. Every generation deserves to hear the message of hope that comes from the empty tomb.
St Peter began his message by saying, “You know what happened.” But he did not stop there. He continued: “We are witnesses…we ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead…and he has commanded us to preach to the people and to testify…” (Acts 10:39-42)
Peter and the first witnesses to Jesus’ resurrection recognised that their part in the Lord’s story had only just begun. They were entrusted with the work of becoming witnesses: sharing the good news they had encountered themselves.
The work of Jesus does not end at the Cross or the empty tomb. The work was continued by the Apostles, the work continues in the life of the Church, and that means the work continues in each one of us.
My dear friends, do not be afraid to be missionary disciples. Do not stop the Lord’s story halfway through. Continue the story, just as Peter and his Apostles did.
Friends, tell people about your encounter with Jesus. Speak about the hope you have discovered in him. Share the joy of the Gospel with those around you.
Through the Scriptures, through the Sacraments, in quiet moments of prayer, and in loving service to one another, we encounter the risen Lord. We know he is alive. And when we live with faith, with kindness, with mercy, and with love, our lives themselves become a witness.
In our Diocese, as we reflect this year on connectedness in Christ, Easter reminds us that the risen Lord brings us together as one community of faith and hope.
In a world that often feels anxious and uncertain, your witness does matter. Your faith does matter. Your story of encountering Christ can help others discover that they too are loved and called by God. Do not be afraid to continue the story!
Let us not keep the message of Easter to ourselves.
Let us go out with courage and joy, like the first disciples, and proclaim with our lives:
Christ is risen. He is truly risen. Alleluia!
+ Most Rev George Kolodziej SDS DD
Bishop of Bunbury