At Trinity Church in Boston, parishioners bring bells to the Easter Vigil and ring them when the words "Christ is Risen" are said during the Mass. This is to commemorate the fact that Jesus is truly risen from the dead! And this fact is the core of our faith.
Imagine the reaction of Mary Magdalene and the "other" Mary who found the empty tomb first! Imagine the joy, excitement, and peace that Jesus’ resurrection brought to them and continues to bring to believers today. His resurrection is the basis of our faith, the guarantee of our own resurrection, and the feast which gives us hope and encouragement. Easter is the greatest and the most important feast in the Church.
1) The resurrection of Christ is the basis of our Christian faith. It is the greatest of the miracles, proving that Jesus is God. It is the reason St. Paul can say: "If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain; and your faith is in vain" (I Cor 15: 14). "Jesus is Lord, he is risen" (Rom 10: 9), was the central theme of the 'preaching of the apostles. Jesus had prophesied His resurrection as a sign of his divinity when He said: "Tear down this temple and in three days I will build it again" (Jn 2: 19). The founder of no other religion can say this. None of them has left an empty tomb as Jesus has.
2) Easter is the guarantee of our own resurrection. Jesus assured Martha at the tomb of Lazarus by saying: "I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me will live even though he dies." (Jn 11: 25-26)
The disciples knew He had really been raised from the dead when:
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He came to them through locked doors
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He invited Thomas to see the wounds in His hands and to put his hand into the wound in His side
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He encouraged them to let out their nets again, resulting in a large catch
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He broke the bread and ate with them
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He was taken to heaven bodily in front of them
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The Holy Spirit came upon them
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They realized that everything that was happening had been prophesied by their own Jewish prophets
3) Easter is a feast which gives us hope and encouragement in this world of pain, sorrows and tears. It reminds us that life is worth living.
We can share the joy, excitement, and peace of the empty tomb when we reach out to:
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parents, working hard to raise children in faith
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teenagers and young adults facing serious decisions for their future lives
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children already living in the streets, embarking on a life of crime
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mothers struggling to care for their children, without the help of their father
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people with chronic or terminal illnesses
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people going through the terrible pain of the death of a dear one
May the risen Lord bless you and your families as you rely on Him and share His love.
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Father Pinto's inspirational homily was recorded live this morning during Mass at the Father Peyton Center. Please view the video on our Facebook page. (You don't need a Facebook account to view.)
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To view Rosary prayer and Mass streaming live, please visit our Facebook page at 11:30 am EST, Monday – Friday. Please invite your loved ones to join us too! (You don't need a Facebook account to view.)
.jpg "Father Pinto Paul, C.S.C.")