See Him: Who Is Your Advocate

The life and hope of the Church is built upon the Gospel of Jesus Christ. So what is the Gospel? The Gospel is simply good news. But any type of good news consists of two critical components: the event and the effect. Today’s readings zero in on both. The event of the Gospel is the focus of the whole Easter season, but also unfolds before the disciples’ eyes in our Gospel reading. Jesus died for sinners and rose again—just as he said. His resurrection is real and physical, a verifiable fact (as all real good news is) he drives home by eating a piece of fish in their presence. After the event, we see a ripple effect. The power in Jesus’ name is proclaimed to people living in darkness. Whether someone is suffering physically or spiritually, Jesus alone has the power to forgive and save us all!