The Holy Priest-Martyr Antipas, Bishop of Pergamos in Asia (81-96)
Read
Acts 4:13-22; John 5:17-24
Christ is risen! Truly, He is risen!
Have you ever asked yourself, “What is the meaning of life?” Or, more specifically, “What is the meaning of my life?” I look around and I see so much chaos, suffering and pain. I have experienced it myself. Why? What is this all about? How does it make sense? I continually ask myself these questions. And no matter, when I was in high school or university, a seminary student or graduate, a single person or married, a child or a parent, a layperson or a priest, the answer is always the same. God! The answer is God the Holy Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God is the meaning of life. Nothing has meaning or makes sense without Him. And more specifically, the meaning of life is found in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior with the Holy Spirit. And even more specifically, that personal relationship with Christ begins and grows in our earthly life and that it extends into eternal life beyond the material realm.
Through today’s Gospel, let us be once again strengthen in our faith. Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. And as God, Jesus gives life to everyone and will judge all people. Therefore, we should honor Jesus by listening to Him and believing in Him. Everyone will be resurrected, those who have done good will be raised for life and those who have done evil for condemnation. Since Jesus is the bread of life, we should come to Him and eat His flesh and drink His blood in order to have His life in us.