6 April 2027 · Syro-Malankara Rite
Open in the Daily Word appAlso: Latin Rite · Syro-Malabar Rite · മലയാളം
“But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ” Ephesians 2:4–5
Christ is risen! In the Easter season the Church reads St Paul's letter to the Ephesians, which speaks of Easter as something that has already happened to us. “You were dead through the trespasses and sins in which you once lived.” Paul does not soften the picture: without Christ, we were following “the course of this world,” ruled by our passions, and “by nature children of wrath, like everyone else.” Then come two words that change everything: “But God.” “But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ… and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” What God did for Jesus on Easter morning, he has begun in us through Baptism. We were buried with him, we were raised with him, and in hope we are already seated with him. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not the result of works, so that no one may boast.” Salvation is pure gift; no one earns the first grace (Catechism 1996–1998, 2010).
Yet Paul at once adds: “For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.” The Catholic faith holds both together: we are saved by grace, not by our own works; and grace is not idle, it makes us capable of works of love that God himself has prepared for us. The Gospel shows this in a small household scene. Jesus enters Simon's house after the synagogue. Simon's mother-in-law has a high fever. “Then he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. Immediately she got up and began to serve them.” The Greek word for “got up” is the same family of words used for the Resurrection; healed by the Lord, she rises and serves. St Jerome, preaching on this scene in Mark's Gospel, prayed that the Lord would come into our house too, and with a word heal the fever of our sins, so that we might rise at once and serve him (in substance). Then, at sunset, the whole town brings its sick, and “he laid his hands on each of them and cured them.” Not the crowd in general, but each one. He silences the demons who shout his name, because he will not be proclaimed by them; he will be known through the Cross and the empty tomb.
How do we live this Tuesday of Qyomtho? First, thank God for the grace of Baptism: you were dead, but God made you alive with Christ. If you know the date of your Baptism, mark it in your calendar this year. Second, ask the Lord to rebuke whatever fever burns in you: anger, envy, anxiety, an addiction. Name it before him and, if it is sin, bring it to confession. Third, rise and serve. Simon's mother-in-law did not wait to feel stronger; she began at once. Do one good work today that God has prepared for you: help at home without being asked, visit someone sick, take food to a family in need. Bring a sick person you know to the Lord in prayer at the Holy Qurbono, as the people of Capernaum did at sunset.
Theme: “But God, who is rich in mercy… made us alive together with Christ.”
On Tuesday after New Sunday: the mercy that raised us with Christ, the Lord who rebukes the fever and raises up for service, and the good works prepared for us.
“Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live.” Ezekiel 37:5
“And when you were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive together with him, when he forgave us all our trespasses,” Colossians 2:13
Apply: Find the date of your Baptism and thank God for it this evening.
“Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases;” Isaiah 53:4
“For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45
Apply: Bring one sick person to the Lord in prayer at the Holy Qurbono this week, and visit or call them.
“He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
Apply: Do one service today at once, without being asked and without waiting to feel like it.
Easter has begun in us through Baptism: God, rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ.
The Lord who heals us raises us up to serve, in the good works he has prepared.
Take-home resolution: Thank God for your Baptism, ask him to rebuke the fever in you, and rise at once to serve.
Dear friends, Christ is risen! St Paul tells us today what Easter has already done in us. You were dead through your trespasses. But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us, made us alive together with Christ (Ephesians 2:4–5).
By grace you have been saved through faith; it is the gift of God. And then: we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works (Ephesians 2:10). Grace is pure gift, and grace makes us able to love.
In the Gospel Jesus enters Simon's house, stands over the sick woman, and rebukes the fever. Immediately she got up and began to serve them (Luke 4:39). At sunset he lays his hands on each of the sick and heals them. He knows each one by name.
So let us thank God for our Baptism, ask him to rebuke whatever fever burns in us, and rise at once to serve. Let us bring our sick to him at this Holy Qurbono. Amen.
Children, Christ is risen! One day Jesus went to Peter's house, and Peter's mother-in-law was very sick with a fever. Jesus told the fever to go away, and it did! At once she got up and made food for everyone. When Jesus helps us, we can help others too. What can you do to help at home today?
Lord Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, when we were dead through our trespasses the Father, rich in mercy, made us alive together with you. Come into our house as you came into Simon's house. Stand over us and rebuke every fever of sin and fear, and raise us up to serve you at once. Lay your hands on each of the sick we bring to you, and heal them. Make us live the good works you have prepared for us, so that no one may boast except in your grace. To you be glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, for ever. Amen.