Truth vs relativism? Morality, religious truths?
As we heard yesterday St. Paul continues his apologetic teachings. He continues his kerygmatic, which is public proclamation and defense of Jesus' resurrection. The truth of the resurrection is the foundation of Christian faith. Christ's Resurrection is the strength, faith, hope, and ark for Christian faith. At Christ’s death, everything seemed to be lost. If He had not risen from the dead, as St. Paul asserts, we would be false witnesses, and our faith would be in vain. Perhaps, Christ would be perceived like any other Roman criminal. St. Paul gives us reason for faith anchored in Jesus' Resurrection. From scripture we find five reasons fitting for faith in Resurrection of Jesus (Thomas Aquinas).
Jesus' Resurrection reveals God’s justice as we read in Philippian's. His humility to the point of death on the cross was fulfilled through His glorious Resurrection.
It was necessary for confirmation of our faith in Christ. St. Paul emphasizes that denying Jesus’ Resurrection cuts us off from our faith in Him, because the Resurrection is a testimony to the power of God.
It gives hope for the Resurrection of our bodies. As Paul asserts “Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how do some among you say, that there is no resurrection of the dead.” 1Cor 15:12.
Christ's Resurrection means death to sin and new life in Christ for us. In His death we are buried and, in His Resurrection, we are raised to new life. This is essence of the Sacrament of Baptism is where we obtain newness of life as children of God and the Church.
The Resurrection completes the work of salvation. St. Paul wants Christians to understand the payment of our debt of sin on the Cross would not be completed without Jesus' Resurrection. Jesus' Resurrection was profoundly for our sake. Resurrection serves as a pathway to unite us to the Father; it makes us sharers of divinity and that is the hope that we will be raised again. Christ's Resurrection becomes the cause of grace and brings the unity of our humanity and divinity.
Like St. Paul, we may face difficulties today to justify certain truths. Some teachings, like the preservation of marriage and family life. Some difficult truths about the dignity of human life. Some truths about how as human race we are interconnected and we ought to preserve and help one another, especially the weak and poor. We ought to stand strong in faith as believers to defend these truths. Each of these are linked to our new life obtained from death and the Resurrection of Jesus.
The gospel underlines the truth of inclusivity of both men and women in the ministry of Jesus. St. Luke tells us Jesus moved from one town to another proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God and was accompanied by twelve disciples and some women named, Mary called Magdalene, Joanna wife of Herod's steward Chuza and Susanna. In his ministry, Jesus experienced the value and service offered by women in his ministry. And in Church history, it was the wealth women of the early Church who preserved the Church by offering their homes as spaces for prayers and breaking of bread. We pray for our strong faith in our families and we pray for all who support ministry of the Lord especially many women of good will. We pray for Catholic Daughters and Catholic Mom and all women who endeavor to see the ministry of God thrive.