Jesus is Risen! Biblical references: Luke 24:13-32; 24:50-53; John 20:24-29; 21:1-15

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1 Jesus is Risen! Biblical references: Luke 24:13-32; 24:50-53; John 20:24-29; 21:1-15 Introduction: Before he died Jesus said that he would rise, but not everyone understood him. Early on Easter Sunday morning, Mary Magdalene and other women returned to the tomb, but they found it open - the stone had been taken away from the entrance! The women kept standing there not knowing what to do when two men in shining garments appeared to them. They were frightened, but the men told them: Why are you searching among the dead for the one who is alive? He is not here, he is risen! Still afraid, but also full of joy, they ran to bring the news to the disciples, when suddenly Jesus was there and greeted them! The women approached him, embraced him and adored him: Don t be afraid, Jesus told them. Go, tell my disciples to go to Galilee, and there they will see me. Immediately the women ran to Simon Peter and John to tell them what had happened, but the apostles didn t believe them. Peter and John left right away to go to the tomb. They ran quickly, but John ran faster than Peter and even though he arrived first, but did not enter. Peter arrived immediately after him, and entered the tomb and saw the wrappings on the ground and the sheet which had covered the head. John also entered, saw the wrappings and the sheet and understood: Jesus is risen! Then Peter and the other disciple returned home, full of amazement at what had happened.

2 The evening of that same day, the disciples had locked themselves into a room because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly Jesus came and stood among them and said, Peace be with you. Then he showed his disciples his wounds. The disciples were so happy! It really was Jesus! Jesus said again, Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.. Thomas, one of the apostles, was not with them when Jesus appeared. We have seen the Lord! the others told him. But he said: Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger on his scars, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe. Why did Thomas want to put his hand into Jesus side? Eight days later, the disciples were again in the house with the doors locked and Thomas was with them. Jesus came and stood there among them and said, Peace be with you! Then turning to Thomas, he said: Put your finger here and look at my hands; stretch out your hand and put it into my side. Stop your doubting and believe that I am risen! Thomas said, My Lord and my God! Jesus said to him: Because you have seen me, Thomas, you have believed. Blessed are those who, without having seen me, will believe! Two disciples were on the way to a village named Emmaus. They were sad because Jesus had been crucified and it seemed that everything was over. Jesus is speaking of us, too. We have never seen Jesus with our eyes, but we have sensed the joy in our hearts when he is in our midst! Do you remember the times this happened to you? While they spoke about these things, Jesus approached them, but the two disciples didn t recognize him. They told him why they were so sad, but Jesus explained to them: Didn t you know that all this had to happen? It was written in the sacred books... When they reached the village where they were going, it seemed that Jesus was going further on, but the disciples insisted, Stay with us because the day is almost over and it s getting dark! Jesus went in and sat down at the table with them. He took the bread, said the blessing, and broke it... At that moment the disciples recognized him! It was Jesus! But then Jesus disappeared from their sight. Wasn t it like a fire burning in our hearts when he was with us? they told each other happily. Jesus is truly risen! The apostles were out in the boat fishing. But all through the night they caught nothing.

3 At sunrise, as they drew near the shore, they saw Jesus waiting there for them. My children, have you nothing to eat? he asked them. No, they answered. Throw the net to the right side of the boat, Jesus told them, and you will find something. The disciples did as Jesus told them and the net was so full of fish, they could hardly pull it up. They headed quickly for shore and when they landed, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and some bread, and Jesus told them, Bring some of the fish you just caught. Peter went onto the boat and dragged the net onto the shore it had 153 big fish in it! Come and eat, Jesus told them. Then he took the bread and gave some of it to them and some of the fish, too. It was the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples, after being raised from the dead. Jesus appeared to his disciples at other times. They spoke together and once they even ate with him! Then Jesus told them: I must leave you, because I must go to my Father in heaven. But I will not leave you alone, I will send you the Holy Spirit. He will tell you what you must do; he will make you strong and courageous. Go into the whole world and announce to everyone what you have heard from me... And I will be with you all days, even to the end of the world! Then Jesus left them and was taken up into heaven! While they stood there, suddenly two angels appeared to them, dressed in shining white, and said: Why are you standing there, looking up at the sky? Jesus has gone to his Father, but he has not gone forever. One day Jesus will come back! The disciples returned to Jerusalem with hearts filled with joy. After Jesus departure why did the disciples still have so much joy in their hearts? Can we too sense the presence of Jesus, even though he is in heaven? Jesus is risen! He remains among us, if we love one another. Chiara

4 The Big Can (Paolo Italy) Paolo woke up feeling very happy because it was Saturday and there was a Gen 4 meeting. He had breakfast and then started playing with his construction set. Suddenly he got an idea. He asked his mom, Can I bring my construction set to the Gen 4 meeting so they can play too? Yes! his mom told him. He put all the pieces into a large can he could hardly wait to go to the meeting. Finally it came time to go! The Gen 4 looked at Paolo with surprise and asked him, What do you have in there? Paolo opened his can: Oh... you brought your construction set! Yes, so we can play together! Paolo told them. Great! Marco replied. Surprise! (Maria Italy) It was Saturday and Maria was getting ready to go to the Gen 4 meeting. She called up Anna who lives near her house to ask if they could go together to the meeting. But Anna was sick in bed! So Maria started out alone to go to the focolare. During the Gen 4 meeting, they read a message of Chiara from the new Gen 4 magazine. It said: Jesus is risen! He will stay among us if we love one another. The Gen 4 knew that this is true and they played with a lot of love for one another.

5 They ran races and even though Maria was hot and sweaty, she was very happy. It was so beautiful to be with the Gen 4 that she didn t even want to go home! All of a sudden she remembered Anna who is in bed and Maria wanted to go and help her. May I bring Anna the Gen 4 magazine? she asked. When the Gen 4 heard that Anna was sick, they wrote her a little letter and pasted some flowers on it. Surprise! Maria said when went into Anna s house. Guess what I have? Anna was very happy when she saw the surprise the Gen 4 had made for her. Jesus is risen! He remains among us, if we love one another. Chiara