From our New Testament reading, from 2 Corinthians: ‘For the love of Christ controls us, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all, that those who live might live no longer for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

St Augustine commented: ‘Paul said: “Therefore all died; and Christ died for all, in order that they who are alive may live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.” All people, consequently, without a single exception, were dead through sin, original sin or original with personal sin superadded, either by ignorance of or conscious refusal to do what is right. And for all these dead souls one living man died — a man utterly free from sin — with the intention that those who come alive by forgiveness of their sins live no longer for themselves but for Him who died for all on account of our sins and rose again for our justification’.

As we rejoice in our redemption through Christ’s death and resurrection, let us indeed strive to live ‘no longer for ourselves, but for Him who for our sake died and was raised’. May God bless you this day.