Happy Easter!
Today we profess the reality of our Lord's Resurrection which we probably often think of as an event which happened in the past and thus effected Christ and His disciples only.
Easter is a celebration of the future and what awaits each and every one of us. A modern error is to believe that the soul is important at the expense of one's body. This is true because we now await the resurrection of the body and thus moment in time when the souls of dead will be reunited with their body.
We must therefore prepare ourself for the resurrection of our body. As Saint Paul instructs in his Letter to the Colossians that we must seek what is above, think of what is above, and thus when Christ your life appears you too will appear with him in glory.
How often do we fail to contemplate for ourself the resurrection? Not only the Resurrection of Christ that we celebrate today, but also the resurrection of the body which will take place for us at the end of time.
In our Gospel we encountered Christ who continues to call out to each of us: "Be not afraid." We live in a world which is afraid. We are afraid because we have lost sight of the Messiah and thus have lost the sight of placing our trust in Him.
Turn on the news and we will see reasons to be afraid. Go to the doctor and you might given a reason to be afraid. Struggle within your life and you will be given a reason to be afraid. The reasons for us to be afraid are countless, but nonetheless the Resurrection signals to us light from the midst of the darkness of night.
Our faith does not end at the cross. Rather it triumphs from its midst through the Resurrection. Thus too our life does not end at the countless amount of crosses that we are forced to bare, but through enduring these crosses we glance at the Resurrection and thus the life to come where there will be no more sickness, death, nor sin.
Therefore, may we prepare ourself for this reality. May we keep the resurrection of the body firmly placed before our eyes in order that we may spend our time on this earth preparing for this great reality.
Easter serves as a time of renewal for this season draws us towards the Sacrament of Baptism and thus what was begun within us when we were conformed to Christ through these life giving waters.
Let us not waste away the days allotted to us upon this earth by not living up to our baptism and thus too the rejection of Satan and sin. Let this season serve as a time of renewal for each of us and may it assist us in coming to serve Christ without fear as we prepare for the Resurrection.
Christ has Risen. He has risen indeed, Alleluia.
