If Jesus forgave and prayed for those who were nailing his hands and feet to the cross, how much more does he love us who turned to him in repentance during Lent? This is a most welcome thought as we journey through this Jubilee Year of Mercy.

As Eastertide draws to an end, we should pay attention to the urging of Saint Leo the Great, who was pope from 440 until his death in 461. In one of his sermons, he said, “What is to happen to our bodies should now take place in our hearts.”

In other words, not only should we keep the reality of Christ’s resurrection alive in spirit, but we should also conduct ourselves as resurrection people who someday will be citizens of heaven.

As members of the Body of Christ, we can take comfort in Pope Leo’s promise that, “the body that ascended above all the heights of heaven to the right hand of the Father’s glory is ours. “If we walk in the way of his commandments, we, too, will rise to share in the glory of Easter.”

Our prayer today: Jesus, we thank you today for sharing your Resurrection with us and making us forever an Easter people.