“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!” (Psalm 118:24) Today is much like the day that Jesus Christ returned to His Disciples after His Resurrection. The Disciples were mourning His loss and were very frightened and startled when He appeared. Christ said, “Look at my hands and my feet. See it is I. Touch me; I am not a ghost.” While they were overjoyed to realize that everything written about Him had come to pass, they offered Him a piece of broiled fish, and He ate it.

He opened their minds to understand that He was to suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, as the scriptures and hymns said. The Disciples were to proclaim repentance and forgiveness of sins in His name to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem. Their job was to witness to all peoples that He had risen.

On this beautiful, April day, He is risen! Alleluia! Gone is the mourning and only joy remains. Let us rejoice!

Anna Hartt