Holy Week Devotion 

13 April 2022 

 

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THE COMMUNITY OF THE RESURRECTION (Luke 24:1-12)

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Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. (Luke 24:5b-6)

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As people of God, we live in community and this community is unique because all gatherings, fellowships, relationships and communion are based on the only one who has resurrected, our Lord Jesus Christ. The signs of God ́s community are:

 

1. Community of Celebration: In the victory of the empty tomb Jesus showed all his power over death, “that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise. (24:7). This victory is over death, sin and Satan. “Christianity is the religion of resurrection” (Evans). Every Sunday and during the week we gather in order to celebrate Jesus ́ resurrection.
    

2. Community of Testimony: There is a missiological aspect to the resurrection. The first to receive the good news of Jesus ́ resurrection were women. They became the first messengers to announce this victory and they told the disciples what they saw: “and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles (24:9-10). Christ ́s disciples, even until today, have been called by God to proclaim and testify to the Good News of Jesus Christ. Even if we are not heard, we have to do it as a sign of obedience to God.
    

3. Community of God ́s power: The power of Jesus ́ resurrection is on the church and on his people. On the way to Emmaus the disciples were empowered by Christ ́s action and words: “And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” (24:31-32). The resurrected Jesus empowered his disciples to go to the ends of the earth, empowered them in order to transform people and communities, empowered them for healing and liberation of those who are suffering the effects of a life without God. But according to my opinion, the most transforming power was to embody the Scriptures. In other words, the Gospel became alive for them because is God ́s power that is working among his peoples and his communities around the world.
    

Finally, brothers and sisters, do not be distracted in order to do what we have been called by God to do. Secularism and post-Christendom are working against us but we have the power of the resurrection working on our side.
 

“Christ is risen, He is risen indeed Alleluia!

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Contributed by:

The Most Revd Dr. Héctor (Tito) Zavala

Vice-Chairman

Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches (GSFA)

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