April 14, 2024

Experience is more than just an intellectual exercise; it's deeply personal and transformative. In Luke 24:36b-48, we encounter the disciples' firsthand experience of the resurrected Jesus—a moment that transcends mere belief and becomes a profound encounter with the living Christ.

Resurrection isn't just a theological concept; it's a reality that challenges anything that diminishes our lives. Whether it's fear, hatred, denial, distractions, addictions, or even religious practices that fail to bring life, resurrection calls us to confront and overcome these barriers to fulfillment.

Personally, I've grappled with my own struggles—using shaming and passive aggressiveness as coping mechanisms. These patterns of behavior, like many others, only serve to distance us from the abundant life that Christ offers.

Sin, then, is anything that hinders us from fulfilling our true purpose, from being the person we were created to be. But what were we created for? This question lies at the heart of our quest for alignment with God's will.

It's akin to a hunger—an unsatisfied longing that we attempt to fill with people, possessions, and pursuits, yet find them all ultimately wanting. Our restless hearts yearn for something deeper, something that can only be found in communion with God.

The good news is that Jesus doesn't come bearing condemnation or despair. Instead, he offers us life—life in abundance, life in union with God. His resurrection is the ultimate affirmation of God's love and power, a beacon of hope that shines brightly even in our darkest moments.

As we journey through life, may we embrace the reality of resurrection, not as a distant theological concept, but as a lived experience that transforms and renews us from within. Let us confront the barriers that separate us from God's abundant life and open ourselves to the fullness of resurrection joy.