“CHRIST IS RISEN; HE IS RISEN INDEED”
Read time: 5.5 minutes
“Easter is a season of profound transformation, a time when the old gives way to the new and the broken is made whole. It is a reminder that God’s power is made perfect in weakness, and that His grace is sufficient for all our needs.” St. Faustina
This is a time of celebration, joy and thanksgiving for all that Jesus has done for us. “Creation regains its authentic meaning in the plan of salvation. It is like a new beginning of history and the cosmos, because Christ is risen.” St. John Paul II.
When Jesus appeared to his disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, Simon Peter says to his companions “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “we will go with you.” This was the third time that Jesus was revealed to his disciples after He was raised from the dead. The third time? Wait, wasn’t one time enough for the disciples to believe that Jesus had truly risen from the dead?
Apparently not. Peter had decided to go back to the fishing business, and the others followed. Jesus had called them and given them the authority to even forgive sins on His behalf. But fear and doubt remained. These many signs that are given to us by God are meant to grow our faith, not diminish it, and the Resurrection is the greatest sign of all.
Why were the disciples still so full of fear and doubt? They had received some of the Holy Spirit when Jesus rose from the dead, but it wouldn’t be until He ascended into heaven and sent His Spirit at Pentecost that they then received the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Fear and doubt were replaced once and for all with boldness, courage and power.
What a transformation. We have all received this boldness, courage and power when we were baptized and confirmed. We should praise God and give thanks to Him for this gift. Joy should mark our life at all times, but especially during these 50 days of Eastertide. The end of the 50 days will culminate at Pentecost, the birthday of the Church.
Many people will say that this happened 2,000 years ago and it no longer applies to us. Why not? It applies to all of us in this moment in history as well as all the moments of history.
There is an outpouring of the Holy Spirit happening in the world right now. The Catholic Church in Canada reports that record numbers of people were baptized at the Easter Vigil this year. 4,000 people were baptized in Toronto, almost 1,000 were baptized in Calgary and Edmonton reported a 60% increase in baptisms from last year. At one parish in Ottawa alone 90 people were baptized at the Easter Vigil.
This is happening all over the world. There were 13,200 adults and 6,800 adolescents baptized in France, for a total of 20,000. In England and the U.S. numbers have increased substantially over last year. People from all walks of life, nonbelievers, people from different faith traditions as well as Muslims and Jews.
The Father’s will is always being fulfilled, whether we are conscious of it or not, whether we want it or not and even if we believe it or not.
We, the baptized are the Father’s children, heirs to His promises. That hope and promise of the Resurrection and Eternal Life is for each one of us. This is God’s great mercy for the human race, we were all separated from the Father, dead in our sins. But by the Precious Blood of Jesus, we are saved.
Jesus is the Resurrection and the life; there is no other name in heaven or on earth or under the earth by which we can be saved.
Mother Teresa once asked a dying man if he would like to know Christ. He replied, “why, is he like you?” “No, but I try to be like Him.”
“Lord, do not let what you have done for me be wasted on me and do not let what you have done for me end with me.” Father Mike Schmidt.