May the Risen Lord bless you and strengthen you to spread His peace, hope and love to all people.
It is on 09th April 2023. “The Lord is truly risen. To Him be glory and power for all the ages of eternity, alleluia, alleluia.”
Christ is risen! Alleluia!
St. John Paul II once said, “Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song.”
During a catechism class, a teacher was trying to convince children that Jesus is everywhere present. After her session, she asked the children, “Jesus is everywhere; Is there anything in this world without Him?” the entire class nodded saying Jesus is present everywhere. One little girl Clare said that there is one place in the world. The teacher was curious to ask: “What is the place without Jesus?”. Without hesitation, she said that Jesus is not there in the sepulchre It is empty. To justify what she said, she quoted from Mt. 28:6 “He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.”
“The mystery of Christ’s resurrection is a real event, with manifestations that were historically verified, as the New Testament bears witness,” teaches the Catechism.
Whom are we looking for?
“There is no need for you to be afraid. I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said he would.” That is why St. John of Damascus could boldly proclaim, “Christ the Lord is risen. Our joy that has no end.”
Easter means that we are a transformed people, living the life of the Risen Christ. Have you experienced the Risen Lord? Have you encountered Him?
The resurrection of Jesus is the highest expression of God’s love for the entire humanity.
God of life dispels the darkness and leads the people from slavery to pass over to salvation in the promised land. When we continue to live in sin, God punishes us. Hence, “We are buried with him by baptism into death so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:4).
We all need to be convinced of these five teachings on resurrection.
- 1. “If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, and your faith is in vain.” (1 Cor.15:14). The Resurrection constitutes the confirmation of all Christ’s works and teachings. (CCC.651)
- 2. Christ’s Resurrection is the fulfilment of the promises both of the Old Testament and Jesus himself during his earthly life. (CCC. 652)
- 3. The divinity of Jesus is confirmed by his Resurrection. (CCC. 653).
- 4. The Paschal mystery has two aspects: by his death, Christ liberates us from sin; by his Resurrection, he opens for us the way to a new life. (CCC.654).
- 5. The Risen Christ is the principle and source of our future resurrection: (CCC.655).
“Life is meaningful when it is lived for others,” says Kellan Keller.
Mary Magdalene and the holy women were the first to encounter the Risen One. Thus, the women were the first messengers of Christ’s Resurrection for the apostles themselves. “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers that they must leave for Galilee; they will see me there.”
As St. Peter confesses, “This Jesus God raised, and of that we all are witnesses.” (Acts 2:32). Now we have work to do as a believer. The belief in the Risen Lord needs to be translated and shared not only ideologically but tangibly and sensibly to all entire humanity.
The saintly Pope John Paul II encourages us all: “Christ crucified has risen: this is the great Easter message that every believer is called to proclaim and witness to courageously.”
The risen Lord lives in our relationships and interactions with humanity. Jesus won over death, sin, and Satan and so let us celebrate Easter with hope, love, and peace of the Risen Christ. The tomb could not hold the power of Him and His life. (Acts.2:24; Rom.4.25). The New Life is possible in Jesus always. May the Risen Lord bless you all.