Walking with Jesus: Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord

For Sunday, April 17, 2022

Acts 10:34, 37-43; Colossians 3:1-4; John 20:1-9

Easter is an amazing feast. It is the greatest and most special feast day in the Church’s calendar. Why is this so? Some might like Christmas better, or prefer the feast day of their country or a special day commemorating an event in a person’s, community’s, or nation’s life. The Resurrection of the Lord is the day that we gather to remember, celebrate and give thanks to our incredible God. Actually, this statement is faulty since the usage of “incredible” means “unbelievable” or “not persuading” as applied to a situation, statement, policy or threat to a person. The Resurrection of Our Lord is the ultimate proof of all that Jesus said and did, including all His miracles. These actions prove God’s ultimate love and the concluding reason each person was created: to be with God forever in heaven.

This is a God who didn't simply create the universe; He immersed Himself in it. This God didn’t simply tell us how we should live, but showed us. This is a God who is with us at every moment of our lives and gave His own life so that we can have life forever. This is God’s plan for all eternity. This is God’s promise forever. Jesus laid down His life to save us, redeem us, to destroy death and win a new life that starts now and continues into eternity. He has sent the Holy Spirit so that we are able to see as God sees, act as God acts, love as God loves ... which makes our lives on earth the reality of what heaven is: our home forever in love with God and all those who have shown us how to live in love.

Is this easy? No, it never has been. Does it take all our efforts? Yes, it absolutely does. The key is to live in gratitude for God’s presence in our lives and the grace of the Spirit fortifying us to live in love ... not for ourselves but for all. It is accomplished each day by our dying to selfishness and loving those God places in our lives.

An interesting sidelight is that scientists and psychologists propose that it takes 21 to 60 days to change a habit or adopt a new behavior. We might try to do that as our New Year’s resolution or as a goal during the Lenten season. Sometimes we have failed; sometimes we have succeeded. Now in this season of Easter, leading to Pentecost and beyond, are we looking at our attitudes and behaviors that are not life-giving? Why not? Are our attitudes and behaviors reflecting our faith in Jesus?

We have a new goal … a goal with heaven as its completion point: Do I want heaven? The option is hell. This makes it more than a game or a chance attempt. This is not a game … this is the purpose of my life … the purpose of each person’s life. It is not “sneaking in to the back door of heaven” … there is no back door. The only “door” is being welcomed with a full embrace by God who is love; who created you, me, everyone. On this day in Church we renew our Baptismal promises, remembering to die to our old sinful choices and behaviors and rise to new life in Jesus.

Concretely, what old habits and behaviors should be abandoned in order to be more Jesus-like, Christlike? How about complaining, bullying, selfishness, laziness, prejudice, refusal to listen, old animosities, thinking I’m better, no one is my equal yet ... all are equal at every moment in God’s eyes, because God continually loves each person at every moment of their lives. That is the meaning of heaven.

The Apostles made a radical right turn. They were witnesses to the Resurrection of Jesus. We can and must do the same. This Easter morning is at the heart and center of our faith: God has re-created the world and us in the Resurrection of His son. Despite the evils in His world, the jealousies, the injustices, the hatreds that Jesus faced, His love and forgiveness taught the world that love is the only answer to life. Love, forgiveness and compassion, no matter how small, are the real answer to living. Love, compassion, generosity, humility and selflessness will ultimately triumph over anger, hate, bigotry, prejudice, greed and death itself. This is what resurrection means … our resurrection at the end of our life’s journey. How great God is … how grateful and loving we are ... for all He has made us and fashioned us to be.

So I reflect on:

• What it is like to experience that inner assurance of faith as a gift from God?
• What do I praise God for today?
• Out of what darkness has the Son of Man lifted me to new life?
  

Sacred Space 2022 states:

“The great gifts of Easter are hope and faith. Hope, which makes us have that confidence in God, in His ultimate triumph, and in His goodness and love, which nothing can shake. Faith, the belief that Christ has triumphed over evil despite appearances and that the resurrection is the definitive act in human history.

“So, we celebrate the mystery of the resurrection, proclaim our faith and hope, and give thanks for these gifts.”