The Resurrection of Our Lord is the basis of our faith. Jesus Christ lives: hence, the great joy of all Christians.

The Lord has indeed risen, alleluia. Glory and kingship be his for ever and ever (Entrance Antiphon, cf Luke 24:34, cf Rev 1:6).

‘When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James, and Salome brought spices with which to go and anoint the dead body of Jesus.’ Very early on the following day, just as the sun is rising, they come to the tomb (Mark 16:1-2). And on entering it they are dismayed; for they cannot find the body of our Lord. A youth, clothed in white, says to them: ‘Do not be afraid. I know you seek Jesus of Nazareth: non est hic, surrexit enim sicut dixit — he is not here, for he has risen, as he said (Malt 28:5).’

The glorious resurrection of the Lord is the key to interpreting his whole life, and the ground of our faith. Without this victory over death, says St Paul, all our preaching would be useless and our faith in vain (cf 1 Cor 15:14-17). Furthermore, the guarantee of our future resurrection is secured upon the resurrection of Christ, because although we were dead through sin, God, full of mercy, moved by the infinite compassion with which he loved, gave us Christ ... and He raised us with him (Eph 2:4-6). Easter is the celebration of our Redemption, and therefore the celebration of thanksgiving and joy.

The Resurrection of the Lord is a central reality of the Catholic faith, and has been preached as such since the beginning of Christianity. The importance of this miracle is so great that the Apostles are, above all else, witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection (cf Acts 1:22; 2:32; 3:15; etc.). They announce that Christ is alive, and this becomes the nucleus of all their preaching. After twenty centuries this is what we announce to the world: Christ lives! The fact of the resurrection is the supreme argument for the divinity of Our Lord.

After arising by his own power, Jesus, glorious, was seen by the disciples, who were able to ascertain that it was He: they were able to talk with him, they saw him eat, they saw the marks of the nails and the lance ... The Apostles declare that He manifested himself to them with numerous proofs (Acts 1:3), and many of these men died testifying to this truth. # # #

With permission from Scepter UK.  Short excerpt  from IN CONVERSATION WITH GOD by Francis Fernandez.  
 
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