We are continuing our “AGAPE Homily Series”. We have seen three themes so far: each of us has many gifts, we are all part of one body, and the most important thing in our lives is love. Today we delve into the theme of “gospel” in 1 Corinthians 15:1-11. St. Paul writes, “I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, the gospel that you received and in which you are firmly established; because the gospel will save you only if you keep believing exactly what I preached to you – believing anything else will not lead to anything” (1 Corinthians 15:1-2). If the Gospel is so important to St. Paul, what is it? St. Paul writes, “Well then, in the first place, I taught you… that Christ died for our sins, in accordance with the scriptures; that he was buried; and that he was raised to life on the third day” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). St. Paul reflects on the truth that we celebrate every Sunday, Jesus’ resurrection!
He goes on to write, “Next he appeared to more than five hundred… and last of all he appeared to me too” (1 Corinthians 15:6-8). St. Paul had such a real experience of the risen Jesus that it radically changed his life. He wrote, “I persecuted the Church of God, I hardly deserve the name apostle; but by God’s grace that is what I am, and the grace that he gave me has not been fruitless” (1 Corinthians 15:9-10). St. Paul was initially persecuting Christians and then he had such a powerful experience of Jesus and his resurrection, that he himself became an apostle.
This is the true gospel: Jesus suffered, died and rose again. Jesus appeared to hundreds of people after he died and rose from the dead! There were so many witnesses of this experience. The true gospel also teaches us that this experience changes lives. This should give us great hope! God himself has the power to overcome all evil, darkness, sin and death. He has the power to bring light, love and peace and to give others the ability to share it. This is what it means to be apostles: we are called to witness the risen Jesus in our lives and share the message of light, love, beauty and grace.
The first reading reminds us of the calling we all have to be apostles, “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying: ‘Whom shall I send? Who will be our messenger?’ I answered, ‘Here I am, send me’” (Isaiah 6:8). And the Gospel of today shows us concretely the call of Peter, James and John, “Then, bringing their boats back to land, they left everything and followed him” (Luke 5:11). St. Paul, St. Peter, St. James and St. John became missionaries of God’s love because they experienced that light overcame darkness, that Jesus, love itself, was alive.
Let us ask for this grace today: Jesus, give me the experience of you, risen!
Have a great week and if you need anything, never hesitate to ask me.
God bless you and your loved ones, Fr. Kramer Cameron, LC
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