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Most Rev. Robert J. CarlsonEaster 2006On Good Friday the body of Jesus was taken down from the cross and placed in tomb. All the apostles except John had run away. The world was in darkness. The Blessed Mother was the only light still burning on earth. From all appearances, Jesus was dead. Experiencing the abandonment of God the Father, Jesus "descended into Hell." And then the Good News - Jesus had risen as he said, "Christ our light" has overcome the darkness of evil.On Easter we celebrate the Paschal Mystery - Jesus' suffering, death, and glorious Resurrection. The work of our redemption has been accomplished. In the movie "The Passion of The Christ" there is that wonderful scene where Jesus speaks to Mary as he carries the cross toward Calvary, "Mother, I make all things new." Because Jesus died for us we are now children of God. His death has ransomed us from sin and death. The gift of our salvation was purchased on the cross at a great price. "Are you not aware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? So that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in the newness of life?" (Romans 6:3-11) We each share in the joy of the Resurrection, and we understand that, in a profound way, it affects every one of us. We each share personally in Christ's victory. Easter is the celebration of our Redemption, and therefore the celebration of thanksgiving and joy. The Gospel story of the surprised women at the tomb, the terrified centurion, the cast-aside burial garments, the first appearances, the witnesses, and the disciples gathered together in the presence of the risen Lord makes this central reality of our faith utterly breath-taking and a remedy for the anxiety and fear that burden us. We heard last night at Easter Vigil, "Do not be amazed! You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified. He has been raised. He is not here. Behold the place where they laid him. But go and tell his disciples and Peter, 'He has gone before you to Galilee; there you will see him as he told you!'" (Mark 16:6-7) "Peace be with you," he tells the fearful apostles when he come into their midst on Easter Sunday night. "Peace be with you," he tell s each of us as we struggle with our own anxieties and fears over a loved one serving in Iraq or the lack of stability in our job or the illness of a spouse or a terminal disease or violence or loneliness or you name it. The Jesus who rose once and for all, that we might live forever, is with us today on this Easter Sunday! And he comforts us in our struggles as he comforted his own disciples offering us the gift of Easter and strengthening our faith, hope and love. Like the two disciples on the road to Emmaus on Easter Sunday morning - may our hearts burn within us as we meet the Lord Jesus. Each day, during the Easter Season, the light of the Paschal Candle will remind us that Jesus is the light for the world, for all ages of history, for every society and for each one of us. (John 8:12) Those receiving the Easter Sacraments and indeed each of us are challenged to carry that light to others as we put Christ in the center of our own life. (Ephesians 1:10). | ||||||
