
The Feast of the Resurrection is as spectacular as it is
mysterious. We’ll never comprehend this mystery, we’ll only experience
it someday. The mystery touches us in inexplicable ways every day.
Contemplating this mystery should profoundly alter the way we relate to
others, because Christ relates to others through us.
In attempting
to explain the meaning of this day, St. Heshchius of Jerusalem wrote:
“This day brings us a message of joy; it is the day of the Lord’s
resurrection when, with Himself He raised up the race of Adam. Born for
the sake of human beings, He rose from the dead with them. On this day
paradise is opened by the risen one. Adam is restored to life and Eve is
consoled. On this day the divine call is heard, the kingdom is
prepared, we are saved and Christ is adored.”
No longer can the
children of Adam and Eve wag their fingers at their first parents, as if
blaming and shaming them for their choice.” I also picture Eve saying
to Jesus: “Thank you for taking away our guilt and shame. Thank you for
now giving all our children the opportunity to make their own choices,
to see how well they can do!”
Faith in the resurrection of Christ
transforms everything we do. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI wrote: “Faith in
the resurrection of Jesus says that there is a future for every human
being; the cry for unending life which is a part of the person is indeed
answered. Through Jesus we do know ‘the room where exiled love lays
down its victory.’ He Himself is this place, and He calls us to be with
Him and to depend upon Him. He calls us to keep this place open within
the world so that He, the exiled love, may reappear over and over in the
world.”
What a joy to know that Jesus Himself is the place “where
exiled love lays down its victory.” What a joy to know that He has
called us to be with Him and to be dependent upon Him, so that “exiled
love” may appear over and over again in the world through us. He uses us
as a launching pad to continue His ministry here on earth.
Do you
remember Jesus telling His disciples that they would do greater things
than He has done? For Christ to work a miracle in one place is a great
thing, but for Him to multiply this through His followers here on earth
is much greater.
His resurrection power has been released
throughout the entire world. We no longer look back nostalgically on
what Jesus did, wishing we had been there. No, we take a look at what He
is doing here and now, day after day, in our hearts, and at the things
He would like to do if only we give Him permission.
Think of the
awesome opportunities that are ours every day so that “exiled love may
reappear over and over in the world.” We’re part of His resurrected
kingdom, taking shape every day. We have within us the explosive power
of His love. Every time we share it, it escapes into the hearts of
others to continue the work of redemption and salvation.
If you
want to see where this is going, go back to the readings for Easter and
see it in its infancy. The news of the resurrection seems to have
started with Mary Magdalene. She tells Peter and John and they race to
the tomb and enter. We’re told that John “saw and believed.” Meanwhile,
Christ appeared to others who, in turn, spread the good news further. On
Easter Sunday night, He appeared to the apostles, gave them the
fullness of the Holy Spirit and commissioned them to forgive sins.
In
the first reading, Peter was in the house of Cornelius, a Gentile. As
he was witnessing to Jesus’ teachings and miracles, the Holy Spirit came
down upon these Gentiles, just as with the apostles. The resurrection
was loosed upon the earth, and no force can stop it.
This means
that victory over sin and death is ours, and we’re to allow Jesus to
help us live it and spread it. It doesn’t mean that we’ll live sinless,
but it does mean that with sin there’s forgiveness. There are graces
much greater than our greatest weaknesses. It means that we don’t live
in condemnation, but we live in hope, knowing that our victorious Jesus
has given us the dignity of being His witnesses to a life of repentance
and forgiveness.
There’s no longer any excuse for being depressed
about our sins. He wants to lift our burdens of guilt with His mercy. He
wants us to live free of sin through forgiveness so that Satan doesn’t
have a claim on our lives.
With the conversion of Saul and the
repentance of Peter, Christ also wants us to be celebrators of
repentance. He wants us to accept willingly our need for mercy and thus
give others hope in Christ. He has called us to stop looking at
ourselves as self-sufficient, but totally dependent upon Him for
everything.
Suffering doesn’t end with the resurrection, but it’s
filled now with profound hope and meaning. Suffering joyfully with
Christ brings resurrection joy into the lives of those with whom we live
and socialize.