Not abandoned

Sometimes we may feel trapped.

Sometimes we may feel alone.

Sometimes we may feel ourselves to be in a darkness that will never lift.

But Christ is risen.

Indeed, he is risen.

The message of Easter reminds us that the walls that we may feel around us are not as strong as we think or fear.

The message of Easter reminds us that we are never alone and that we will never be alone.

The message of Easter reminds us that no darkness is so great that the light of Christ will not penetrate it.

This message is emphasized repeatedly in today’s first reading (Acts 2:14, 22-33), taken from the Church’s first public proclamation of Christ’s resurrection – uttered by Saint Peter himself.

You will not abandon my soul to the nether world.

Saint Peter here is quoting Psalm 16:10: a prophecy fulfilled in the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ from the dead.

God did not abandon Christ to the netherworld. Christ is risen.

Neither will God abandon his faithful ones, no matter how dark and hopeless we may feel.

Christ is risen.

Indeed, he is risen.

We are not abandoned and never will be.