“Today’s readings show us two situations—but one message.
In the Gospel, two disciples are walking away—sad and discouraged. In the first reading, a man is sitting—unable to walk, stuck in his condition.
Different stories—but the same truth: Without Christ, we remain stuck. With Christ, we rise.
The disciples said, “We had hoped…” That is a painful line.
Because many of us can say the same: “I had hoped my family would be okay…” “I had hoped things would get better…”
So we continue walking—but inside, we are already discouraged.
The crippled man is also like us. Not all of us are physically crippled—but many are stuck: stuck in fear, in sin, in problems, in discouragement.
But here is the Good News of Easter: Jesus comes to us where we are. He walks with the disciples. He reaches out to the crippled man through Peter.
And Peter says: “In the name of Jesus… rise and walk.” And the man rises.
My dear brothers and sisters, what we truly need is not just solutions. We need an encounter with the Risen Christ.
Because only Jesus can: turn discouragement into hope,
fear into courage, and being stuck… into new life.
But there is one important question: Do we allow Jesus to lift us?
Because sometimes He is already near—in His Word, in the Eucharist, in the people around us—but we do not recognize Him.
And finally, a challenge. Peter said: “What I have, I give you.”
So we ask ourselves: What do I have to give?
Maybe not money or power—but we can give: faith, kindness, time, compassion.
Because someone near us today is also “stuck”—and waiting to be lifted.
My dear brothers and sisters, Easter is not only about celebrating that Jesus is alive. It is about allowing Him to raise us up—and to use us to raise others.
So today, let us pray: “Lord, when I am discouraged—walk with me. When I am stuck—lift me up. And when I am strong—send me to lift others.”
Because this is what it means to be an Easter people: We rise with Christ—and we help others rise.”