The Resurrection of the Lord (“B”)
Q. 679: Can you shed some light on the implications of the Resurrection? (Return to INDEX page of "Didja Know?" series)
April 8, 2012
A. 679: It is very appropriate to recall St. Paul’s words here, and ponder their significance: “if Christ has not been raised, your faith is in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:17a). As a footnote to the NAB says, both forgiveness and salvation are an illusion if there is no resurrection! But Christ has indeed been raised, and he appeared to many of his apostles and disciples for our proof (so we read in Acts 10:37-43 today)! So at every Mass we proclaim with great joy this great mystery of our faith: “We proclaim your death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again!”
Think of the implications and significance of the Resurrection! Christ promised that he would be raised on the third day, and his prophecy came true! The divine Son of God became man for our sake, in the Incarnation (Luke 1:26-33). In his public ministry he proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught us to repent and to love everyone (the third Luminous mystery of the rosary), inviting everyone to become his disciple. At the Last Supper on what we today call Holy Thursday, he made a new covenant with us, telling us that he would shed his blood for the forgiveness of our sins (Matthew 26:27-28). Then he made the ultimate sacrifice, dying for us and redeeming us while we were still sinners (see Romans 5:8).
For me, the message of the Resurrection can be phrased many ways. One way to paraphrase Jesus’ message is this: “What else do I have to do to get you to freely believe that I love you? I died for you! Now I want you to come home to me! My arms are always open to you. I will never force my love upon you; it is your free-will choice to accept it. My promise to you is this: Believe, and you will be Saved!”
KNOW YOUR CATECHISM! Believing in Jesus Christ and in the One who sent him for our salvation is necessary for obtaining that salvation (John 3:36) (CCC #161). As Jesus said after the apostle Thomas doubted, “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed” (John 20:29b) (CCC #162).
Deacon Paul Rooney
Mary Our Queen Parish, Omaha
(Go back to Deacon Paul's HOME PAGE)
