The Collect for the Third Sunday of Easter is:
“May your people exult for ever, O God, in renewed youthfulness of spirit, so that, rejoicing now in the restored glory of our adoption, we may look forward in confident hope to the rejoicing of the day of resurrection. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.”
Reflection
Joy is the theme of the season, so we ask for the grace to find that joy, to “exult,” in the right things. Since salvation brings us everlasting life and old age will not matter in the end, we speak of it as “renewed youthfulness of spirit.” It also helps that we will get our bodies back, but glorified and perfected, which is even better than earthly youthfulness. Joined to this youthfulness is the fact that we are now God’s adopted children. But, much of the real effect of this is in the future. Thus, we pray to look forward to that effect in the day of resurrection.
So, for your daily contribution to the Church’s collection of prayer,
Take a moment to consider what gives you real joy. Reflect on how much you care about and take pleasure in spiritual things. If it’s not much, then think about the fact that even the greatest thrill on this earth will end, but heaven will bring us eternal youth and perfect intimacy with God and others. Pray for the grace to embrace that reality and make it your true joy. Then spiritually unite that prayer to all the Masses throughout the world today. That way, when the priest says “Let us pray,” you can be a part of that “us” even if you don’t get to attend Mass.
{It is Sunday, so I hope you can make it!}