Easter People

​Step #1: Lectio / Read

Click the link below or open your Bible to the passage and read through the reading at least once, paying attention to what is happening in the text.

Matthew 28:8-15

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​Step #2: Meditatio / Meditate

Use the following meditation to help you reflect more deeply on the Scripture (you may want to read the passage again).

He is risen, Alleluia, Alleluia!

What a long road it’s been. A little over 40 days ago we all began this journey with a reminder, “you are dust, and to dust you shall return,” but today is different, today is the first day of new life! No longer is our focus on dust and death, but rather we are an Easter people who are clothed in salvation and will be lifted up in the resurrection!

Now that the dust has settled (no pun intended), what do Easter people do?

Today’s Gospel gives us three simple tasks: #1: to share the good news that Jesus can conquered the grave and has been resurrected in glory, #2: to keep returning to Christ daily and embrace him at his feet, and #3: to keep faith and have hope even when the world tries to deny the resurrection of Our Lord.

#1 Easter people share the good news of Jesus Christ that Jesus can conquered the grave and has been resurrected in glory! Think back to the most recent encounter you’ve had with Jesus. Recall the love and peace that you felt, the warmth of his presence, the deep conviction in your heart, the stirring of your soul. The world is in desperate need to know that they can have that encounter themselves. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary ran to announce the good news of the resurrection to the disciples, why, because that meant that Jesus was who he said he was – the Son of God who has come to conquer death! Notice that they too were fearful, yet their joy carried them through.

#2 Easter people keep returning to Christ daily and embrace him at his feet! As the Mary’s were running, Jesus appeared before, and they bowed down and embraced his feet. This is the call for us who believe in the resurrection to know that Easter is not one day out of the year, but rather that we get to encounter the resurrected Jesus daily! We can meet Jesus daily through adoration, confession and receiving the Eucharist! Let us not waste the opportunity, but rather be fortified in our desire to encounter Jesus daily in prayer!

#3 Easter people keep faith and have hope even when the world tries to deny the resurrection of Our Lord! The chief priests and elders bribed the soldiers that were guarding Jesus’ tomb to lie and say that the disciples came at night to steal his body. On the first day of salvation the Church is immediately met opposition and lies about the truth of who Christ is. This blew my mind because the world today is still trying to convince us about the same thing, that Christianity is false, that Jesus did not rise from the dead, that St. Paul “organized” religion in a way that Jesus did not intended.

Jesus Christ has risen from the grave, he has conquered death, he has sent the Holy Spirit to transform the world and set hearts on fire, but the only way we can change the world is if we are convinced in our hearts that Jesus is Lord and fall to his feet daily. In the words of Pope St. John Paul II, “We are the Easter people and alleluia is our song!”

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​Step #3: Oratio / Pray

These questions are to be used to talk to God; have a conversation with the Lord about these questions and what is going on in your heart as you pray today.

We are called to share the good news. Do others know you are different because Jesus has risen?

We are called to spend time at Jesus's feet. Are you close to Jesus? How is your relationship with Him right now? How can you make it stronger?

​We are called to keep the faith. When your faith is attacked how do you respond? How can you strengthen your faith?

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​Step #4: Contemplatio / Contemplate

In this step, you listen. Stop talking, let God speak to your heart. You may repeat one of these short phrases to focus your mind on the Lord.

"I will share the good news." 

"I will fall at Jesus's feet."

"I will keep the faith."

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Step #5: Actio / Act

In light of today's reading and your time spent in prayer with the Lord, what concrete action or actions will you take to let this encounter with the Lord bear fruit in you today?

Today, how will you claim our identity as part of the Easter people? How can you share the good news? How can you fall at Jesus's feet? How will you keep the faith? Pray and ask Jesus to help you live out your identity as part of the Easter people. 

If you are able, we would love your financial support as a monthly donor for Carpe Verbum. Our monthly donors make this ministry possible through their contributions. Will you help us share the good news and reach teens across the US? By helping others pray daily, we hope to help the Church in her mission to grow a new springtime.

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​Smartphone Lock Screen

The following image is here for you to save and use as a background or lock screen on your smartphone or device to help you carry today's Lectio Divina with you the rest of the day.

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Today's prayer was prepared by Mike Monette, a theology teacher at JSerra Catholic High School in Orange County, CA. 

If you have anything you'd like our team to pray for, please go to the page of our website called "Prayers" and let us know how we can pray for you today.