The First Reading is recorded in Isaiah 65:17-25. What a wonderful passage of hope in God’s future! Notice the emphasis on peace and long life. This is a great passage to give us a glimpse of the resurrection we will have in Jesus, when all things will be made new, and there will be eternal life and peace in Christ. Let us look forward to this hope and assurance in Jesus.

Lord God, we give You thanks and praise for Isaiah’s words, and for the greater fulfillment of this prophecy in Your Son Jesus. Let us always rejoice in eternal life and peace which is Your gift to us in Jesus. Keep us firm in faith, firm in Your faithfulness to fulfill all Your promises in Jesus. In His Name we pray. Amen.

The Psalm is Psalm 16. Notice the emphasis in following the Lord alone, the psalmist will not follow other gods, they cannot save. Notice the assurance the psalmist has in the faithfulness of the Lord, even to the Lord rescuing and saving from Sheol, the place of the dead. As you read the psalm, picture Jesus praying this psalm, even in the face of the cross, and then pray the psalm as your prayer.

Lord Jesus, we give You thanks and praise for Your complete trust in the heavenly Father. Heavenly Father, we give You thanks and praise for raising Jesus from the dead, for not abandoning Him to Sheol. Holy Spirit, we give You thanks and praise for putting faith in our hearts so that we can pray this psalm in faith. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.

Today’s Second Reading is recorded in 1 Corinthians 15:19-26. There were many problems in the church in Corinth. Apparently, there were even some who said the resurrection had already happened, and that there was nothing more to look forward to. Did the apostle Paul ever tear that nutty idea down! Read this passage, our resurrection is yet to come because Jesus is risen! Jesus is the glorious Lord of all! Because He is risen, all things will be put under His feet, and then He will place all things under the heavenly Father. Read the whole chapter to see Paul’s affirmation of the resurrection, and that we can be assured it will happen!

Risen Jesus, we are awed as we consider again that You are risen, never to die again! We are encouraged to know that in You we, too, will be raised. We are moved to thanks and praise for Your love for us and for the eternal life we have in You. Keep us firm in You, especially when there are forces and powers that would tear down our hope of the resurrection; keep our faith and hope strong in You. In Your Name we pray. Amen.

The Gospel in recorded in Luke 24:1-12. Listen again to the words of the angels, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” Remember how He told you… and it came to be! When Jesus says something, it comes to be, even to the resurrection of the dead! He has promised us that in Him we, too, shall be raised! Remember this always. He remembers His promise, and when He remembers, it happens! We can trust our lives on that!

Holy Lord Jesus, we thank and praise You that as You remember Your promises they come to be. Enable us to trust You today, tomorrow, and into eternity, holding fast to Your faithfulness to keep Your promises. Because You are faithful, we can pray in Your Name. Amen.