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Welcome to Unpacking the Mass with Keith Nestor. On this podcast, we dig into the week's readings for the upcoming Sunday for the Catholic Church so that when you go to Mass, you are ready to hear what God has to say to you through the Scriptures. So grab your Bibles and let's get digging. He is risen. He is risen indeed. Friends, welcome to Unpacking the Mass for Easter Sunday. We're so thankful to have this opportunity to enter into this beautiful celebration that is the foundation of our faith. Lent is over, and I just want to personally welcome all of you who came into the church at the Easter Vigil. Welcome home. The adventure of a lifetime is about to begin for you or has begun for you. And whether you were baptized or confirmed, friends, it's such an awesome blessing to be able to be part of the church that Jesus Christ founded. And we're going to look at some of that stuff today as we dig into these readings. So many amazing things. And of course, you could talk about the resurrection until you're blue in the face and you'd never fully grasp the significance of it. But I will say this. The Bible itself, St. Paul even says that if Christ has not been raised, our faith, faith is in vain. Our preaching is useless. Friends, we should all just go home and be done with this whole thing. Because what we believe, the foundation of all of it, lies on Christ physically rising from the dead. It's not a metaphor. It's not symbolic. It's real. And if it's not real, then none of this matters. But guess what, friends? If it is real, and it is, then everything, everything changes in our lives because of it. We're going to dig into that today. Let's begin with a word of prayer in the name of the Father and of the Son, of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Lord, we thank you for your resurrection. You are the resurrection and the life. And we live because you have lived. And the same spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives inside of us who believe so. Lord, may that spirit inflame us with passion and love and gratitude and joy. Today we pray these things in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. I've said it a million times, but the Easter Vigil is my most favorite day of the year. Evening of the year. And I am so excited for what it means to step into this new season, having reflected on the resurrection of the Lord. What does it mean? What did it mean for the apostles? We all understand what they went through from the conceptual idea. But we can't understand the emotional aspect of it because we're on the other side of it. We can't look back and imagine a time in our lives when we didn't know that Jesus rose from the dead as Christians. Okay? And what I mean by that is this. There wasn't a part of our faith experience where we were like, yep, he's going to live, you know, and reign on this earth materially. And, you know, we know about the crucifixion and we know about the resurrection. They didn't. You got to remember what we read in the scripture. They have. They're experiencing this in real time. And we have to understand what that must have been like. But then what we can do is look back at that at a distance and say, wow, the power of this experience continues to live on and continues to be the center of everything that we do. But we have to remember, my friends, for those who walked in this, this was beyond belief, was powerful. And we're going to start, my friends, by looking at our first reading from Acts, chapter 10. Of course, this comes basically, you know, after Christ has ascended into heaven and the church is on its mission. And Peter, of course, is going around and preaching and teaching with the other apostles and. And we have a beautiful sermon Peter gives here where. And I want you to take notice of this. When Peter talks about the resurrection of Jesus, I want you to notice as we read, he's not giving people information that they don't already have. He's not saying, hey, by the way, just so you know, Christ actually rose from the dead. You'll notice when we read this that he is affirming what is common knowledge to these people. Very important that we understand that. All right, let's look at it together. Acts, chapter 10, verses 34, then 36 through 43 reads this way. And Peter opened his mouth and said, truly, I perceive that God shows no partiality. You know, the word which he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace by Jesus Christ. He is Lord of all the Word which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism which John preached, how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, how he went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed by the devil. For God was with him. And we are witnesses to all that he did, both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree. But God raised him on the third day and made him manifest, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God to be the judge of the living and the dead. To him, all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name. Pretty cool, isn't it? My friends? Our second reading comes to us from Colossians, a letter from St. Paul that he writes to this church, and here's what he says in chapter three. If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. And then our gospel from John 20, verses 1 through 9. Now, on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, they have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him. Peter then came out with the other disciple and they went toward the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came following him and went into the tomb. And he saw the linen cloths lying and the napkin which had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple who reached the tomb first also went in and he saw and believed, for as yet they did not know the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Wow. Pretty powerful stuff, my friends. Isn't it? Amazing. So the first reading, of course, from Peter is, this is a summary of the Gospel. Now, Peter's speaking to these people and he's saying, you guys, we all know about what Jesus did. He's not saying to them, hey, you know what I mean. I know you've never heard this before, but here's what happened. He's affirming what they all knew and yet connecting this to the ministry and mission of the Church. Now, if Jesus hadn't been raised from the dead, then why would Peter be doing any of this? And some people say well, you know, the Christians made this up. The disciples must have come and taken his body away. I mean, that was one of the theories that the Jews tried to sow among the people to discredit what had happened. Let's make up this story. And if you ask people who don't believe that Jesus rose from the dead, oftentimes this is the answer they're going to give you. Well, the disciples lied about this because what they can't say is that Jesus never existed. I mean, even the most hard hearted atheistic scholars will admit that Jesus exists, existed and that he was crucified and that he was put in a tomb. That is a historical fact. Now what happened next is pretty interesting because it's clear from history that these people who are followers of Jesus claimed to have seen him. People who, who lived in that time frame all had this view, right? If they were there, they claimed to have believed in him. I mean, we just saw that it's a historic truth that the followers of Jesus claimed to have seen him risen after he dead. It's also a historical fact that the tomb was found to be empty. So if he didn't rise from the dead, the only other logical explanation is that the disciples came and rolled away the stone even though it was guarded. And then they stole his body and hid it away. Because what you can't have is a, a scenario where they stole his body, but yet they really truly believe that he rose from the dead. Because obviously if they stole his body, they would know that the whole thing was a lie. So ask yourself this question, why would they do that? What did they have to gain? Now I know people are always saying stuff like, well, you know, Christianity is all about power and these guys just wanted worldly power. They wanted to use what happened to gain political or worldly wealth. But ask yourself this, why would they do that? Is that what happened to them? Did any of these people who claimed to see Jesus and went around proclaiming their faith in his resurrection, did any of them wind up with worldly power or riches? No, they all wind up with the death sentence, basically. So you have this unique point in time in history that is very interesting because these people were the only ones who would have known whether or not Jesus really rose from the dead or they made it up and they were all willing to die for this belief in his resurrection. There's not one historical document or historical record anywhere of one of the followers of Jesus coming forward later saying, hey, we made the whole thing up. It's not true. It was A hoax. We were trying to get worldly power and money. You don't see any of that. What you see are these people who at Christ's arrest and his passion, his crucifixion, were terrified and ran away. And then now something has happened to their lives that has transformed them from being full of fear to. To being full of faith in the resurrected Jesus. Can you explain what that was? Unless it's actually true. Think about that. It's actually true. It's pretty powerful. And what we see here is basically a summary of the Gospel. And we see the mission of the church, we see the call. Now let's think of what has to happen to go into this mission and call. First thing, we just established this. Christ must be truly risen. Not a symbol, not some sort of spiritual resurrection, but a real resurrection. The second thing is that the church must be given the mandate by Jesus to go out and preach the Gospel. Notice Jesus didn't say to them, hey guys, this is a special moment just for us. I'm going to rise from the dead. But. But keep it secret. Don't tell anybody. Just have this little moment for us. If that were the case, none of us would even know about this. But that's not what he did. If you read Matthew 28, and then into Acts 1, Jesus gives them his mission to go out into all the world and tell everybody what had happened. And that's what they're doing. We see that in the book of Acts. So we need the actual event of the resurrection. We need the mission, the mandate. Right, but what else do we need? We need his authority. We need his power. Because otherwise, how are they going to get this right? How are they going to go out and do these things? But what did Jesus tell them? He said, you're going to do even greater things than I've done. He said to the disciples, you guys are going to go out and preach. And he who hears you, hears me. He said to Peter, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven. I'll give you the keys to the kingdom. And he gave the church his mandate, his mission and his authority to go out. And he gave them one more thing that was so powerful. The promise that the gates of hell would not prevail against his church. And that's why we're here, because this is what has happened and this is what continues to happen, my friends. That's what we see in this first reading. They must be, though fearless. Remember, before the resurrection, they're full of fear. After the resurrection and his glorious Ascension. They're full of faith, they're full of courage. And that's the call to all of us. St. Paul echoes this in that second reading, doesn't he, when he talks about that we have to always remember that our treasure is in heaven. We're not focused on the things of this world. We're focused on heaven. We don't live for the here and now. If we live for the here and now, we would be full of fear that something could happen to us or that whatever it is that we're trying to achieve or acquire here on earth, someone could take that away. But what did Jesus say? Don't work for the food that spoils or the treasure that moths can eat or rust can destroy or thieves can steal. Rather, labor for what is in heaven. That's what St. Paul is echoing in the letter to the Colossians. He's saying, look, if you're going to do this mission, if you're going to be focused and fearless, I like that. Focused and fearless. I like that. If you're going to be focused and fearless, you've got to be setting your mind on the things that are above, not are the things that are below. That's the key. If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above where Christ is. For you have died and your life is hid with Christ. That's the key. See, the whole idea of the resurrection is to change your focus to. To take it off the here and now. Because if Christ hasn't been raised, then it's all about what happens here and now. So we're rightly to seek then the things of this life and the things of this earth. Which ironically, is what the Church got accused of in what they were doing. And they're preaching. Oh, you're just trying to get power. People say all the time, oh, the Catholic Church trying to get power. Look at what that's led to. But when we think of Christ, we don't think of the things of this life as the be all, end all. No, we think of where he is. And that's the key. You see, the disciples didn't achieve worldly riches. They achieved death. And how were they able to do that? Because again, they were focused and fearless because of the resurrection. Ask yourself this. Does that describe you? Are you focused and fearless? Or are you still trying to figure out how to get everything in this life? And are you terrified that something is going to mess up your plan, either death or failure to acquire or achieve what it is that you want here in this life, when we live with Christ, we seek those things that are above, not the things that are here. And that's the key. So ask yourself this question as. As we step into Easter, are you going to live as an Easter person, or are you going to live as a dead person? Someone concerned with this life, An Easter person's like, hey, Christ has risen. He has ascended. I want to be where he is. I set my eyes on what is above, not on what is below. Are you trying to live for the world? Are you trying to live for what is above? Why are you doing what you're doing? The apostles were doing what they were doing because they wanted to follow Christ's command. And notice once the persecution began, they didn't run from it. They walked straight into it because they knew. They knew that he had risen from the dead and that where he is, they would be also. That's the kind of faith that we have to have, my friends. But remember, they didn't start out that way. They started out turning terrified before he rose. And that's why I think it's so cool we look at our gospel today. You know, we see this happening through. At first, through the eyes of Mary Magdalene, who. I think it's interesting that she doesn't understand that Christ is going to rise from the dead, and yet she still goes to the tomb to mourn. Think about it. If you followed this, this Messiah who appeared to have failed, put in the ground, it's over, it's done. The mission seems to be over. Everyone is saying that was it. We were all fooled. Why did she go to the tomb? She went because she loved Jesus. See, the love of Jesus is going to help you overcome the obstacle that a lack of understanding can put in your life. Think about that for a second. She didn't understand the plan that he would die, but she loved him so much that even though that misunderstanding or that lack of understanding was an obstacle, she went around it because she loved him. If you don't understand God's plan for your life, that's okay. Love him anyway and let the love that you have for Jesus drive you to him, even when all seems lost. That's a powerful word right there. If I was sitting in a church service and you were there, I'd hope that you'd say amen. But here's the thing. Many of us, we let go of our love when it goes beyond our understanding. We love Jesus as long as we can understand. This is the problem that many people have. Why they bail on their faith in Christ, Why? They leave the Church? Because something comes into their life that doesn't match up with their understanding of who Jesus is or what he's supposed to do for them. And then that perceived failure or that disconnect of understanding leads to a disconnect of relationship. Don't let your disconnect of understanding lead to a disconnect of relationship. Mary Magdalene didn't let that happen. Of course she didn't understand it. But yet, even when it was so dark and it seemed like all hope was lost, she still goes to the tomb because of the great love that she had for Jesus. That's important. And you could say the same thing to a certain degree to the disciples, because guess what? They stayed together even though they all ran away. Right? Except for John. Where do we find him Three days later? They're together, man. And when Mary finds the tomb empty, what does she do? She goes to Peter. Remember, this is the guy who betrayed Jesus. Why does she go to him? Why doesn't it say, oh, she didn't want nothing to do with Peter. He was a loser, he was a failure. Why doesn't it say that? Why does it say that when this happened and she can't find Jesus in the tomb, like they stole him, he's not even here anymore. Where does she go? She goes to Peter. Why? Because even though Peter was a failure, he was still the leader. That's important. The men that God chose to lead the Church are going to be failures. But that doesn't stop his plan. And that's the key. I'm so tired of people pointing to the failure of the servants of God, as though somehow that discredits God's mission and his plan. No, not at all. This is how it's always been. So if you're a new Catholic and people are going to be like, oh, did you see what the Pope did? Or what this bishop did? Or what that priest did? And you're going to be like, oh, my goodness. I can't believe that happened. I guess I can't be Catholic anymore. I got to go be Presbyterian or something. Because they're all perfect. Understand this. It's always been that way, even when Jesus was around. And yet his call and his mandate for these men, for His Church, it still stood. And that should give us encouragement. Because it's not about the disciples. It's not about us. It's about Jesus and what he chose to do through them and what he wants to do through you. So she goes back to find Peter, and of course he doesn't know. So what does he do? He comes out toward the tomb, and I love it. It says that they both ran. I like how John adds the. You know, the detail that he ran faster than Peter. But notice it's interesting. He stops so that when Peter gets there, he can go in first and he's blown away. He doesn't know what to do. And of course, we're going to see later, you know, as we continue to read the Bible, what happens next. You know, they're blown away. And of course, there's other versions of this text where Jesus encounters Mary, you know, after this, in the tomb, and she's blown away. Maybe that happens before. Maybe she goes back. I don't know. But the reality is this Peter and John come running in, and they discover that he is not there. Friends, when we are struggling to find out where Jesus is, we got to do what Mary did. We got to go and find Peter. We got to go to the disciples, we got to go to the church that's powerful. And the church isn't always going to be led by men who are perfect, just like it wasn't even in Jesus day. But the truth of the gospel remains. And because of that truth, that mission and that mandate and that authority and that promise, when we step into that, too, when we unite ourselves to his church and unite ourselves to his resurrection, then we have the promise, too, that if we become focused and fearless, then what we do will bear fruit. Because it's not us doing it. It's Christ doing it through us. And that's the call to each and every one of us. This Easter and beyond, my friends, is to live as Easter people, People who have hope, people who are seeking the things above because we know that Christ is there. People who aren't so worried about what can happen to us in this life if we don't do it the world's way. But who can honestly say I don't care about my life in this world? All I care about is Jesus. All I care about is accomplishing his mission for my life, his mandate. Knowing that staying united to the church that he founded, I will also be united to that promise that the gates of hell will not prevail against it. Hey, if I go off and do my own thing because I get mad at somebody or because I can't understand something, what am I going away from? I'm going away from that promise. I'm going away from that power. I might retain some of that truth and some of that message, but now I've put it on myself to get it right. Friends, we don't look at non Catholics and say, oh, they've got it all wrong. We don't do that because in as much as what they say comes from Jesus, then, yeah, praise the Lord. But what we have to recognize is that when there's a divergence there, it's a subtraction, not just a division. Okay? Think about that. When people walk away from the Church, when Luther and Calvin and Zwingli, when they all left the church and went to start their own little, you know, sects, it wasn't a division, and it also wasn't a multiplication. Some people like to spin it that way. Oh, isn't it great that we have all these denominations? Because now, you know, if you like country music, we got a denomination for you. If you like rock and roll, we got a denomination for you. If you like, you know, traditional stuff, we got a denomination. It's all great. It's all part of the. No, no, no, it's not about that. Because it's not just about these stylistic things. It's about what we walk away from when we leave Peter, when we say, I don't understand this. I'm out of here. It's a subtraction, friends. And Christ said that he wants us all to be one. Think about that unity that he was after. That's what we need to stick with. Don't let your. Your lack of understanding lead to a lack of relationship or a lack of unity, and especially a lack of faith. Friends, Christ has risen. He has risen indeed. And I can't wait to see what that looks like. Not just for all of you who just came into the church, but for all of us who continue in this mission, who continue with this mandate, who continue with his authority, with his promise. Friends, that's what it's all about. And what an adventure. I always tell new converts this. Get ready for the adventure of a lifetime, because that's what it is. What these guys experience. Book of Acts is wild stuff and beyond. And guess what? It still is. And we get to be a part of that. We're all invited into that, my friends. So show up. Lend yourself to this effort of Christ. Be Easter people. Be people who are focused on the resurrection, seeking the things that are above, people who are focused and fearless because we know that we have the power of the One who overcame death and the grave. And guess what, my friends? When the world comes after us with its lies and its discouragement and its accusations and its attacks, remember this. Our dad beats their dad every time, my friends, because he rose from the grave, he is risen. He is risen indeed. Now, Lent may be over, friends, but Unpacking the Mask going to continue. We're going to keep rolling into this next liturgical season, so stick with us here on Unpacking the Mass. And if you've missed a few weeks or you're just now finding this, do me a favor, make sure you subscribe to this channel like the video, share it with somebody, and I'll put a little card up here to a playlist of all the week's episodes to the beginning of this liturgical year, which we're in Year A, by the way. The Catholic Church is on a three year cycle, A, B and C. And we're on year A. We've done year B and C already and we've, you know, but after we finish up year A, it'll be all three years done here on Unpacking the Mass, and it'll be available perpetually for us to take part in as we move through the week's reading so that when we go to Mass, we are ready to hear what the Lord wants to say to us. We have ears to hear and eyes to see and a heart ready to receive. And it's going to be even more awesome after the Resurrection has been celebrated by all of us here on Easter Sunday. So thank you for being here, my friends. Take care. God bless. And I can't wait to see you back here next week for Unpacking the Mask. Bye, everybody.