In the Liturgy, it’s Easter all week - a full celebration of the Resurrection. But let me ask you, what difference does it make? What difference will the Resurrection make in your life and in mine?
The text from Saint John’s Gospel of Jesus’ appearance to some disciples on the shore of the Sea of Tiberias poses this question to us. And I have an answer for my own life.
I believe and know that the tomb was empty! I believe with all my being that the Lord Jesus Christ suffered and died for my sins and the sins of all humanity.
After 3 days He rose from the dead.
He has saved us.
He conquered death.
He has ushered in THE NEW CREATION. A healing of the human soul. A new law of love written on our hearts. An Eternal Covenant that opens into Divine and Eternal Life, as the Church, the Bride of Christ, is united to Her Spouse.
It is in believing and loving that I open myself to this grace. Deeply believing and loving, I am united with the Risen Christ and He transforms me, the networks of relationship, the community of which I am a part, and extending beyond.
Of course one can give some merely notional ascent to the Resurrection and to Christian faith which makes it a nice sounding philosophy, perhaps motivating one to try to be nice. But we are too wounded, our world is too messed up. It should be evermore clear that today a superficial Christianity is not enough and the Lord wants to give us so much more!
In the weeks after the Resurrection, the close friends of Jesus had indeed seen the Risen Jesus and had been profoundly moved by something unimaginable. He was transforming them but they had not yet received the Spirit. So some were confused. They were fishermen who did not yet know what it meant for them to become “fishers of men”, to they returned to their everyday life.
Yet they do believe and they do love so He comes to them in their everyday life. There He will say, “Simon, son of John, “DO YOU LOVE ME?” “Yes, Lord, You know I love you.” “FEED MY SHEEP.” Soon they will receive the Holy Spirit.
In our everyday life, believing and loving with all the heart we can muster, He will come to us, He will transform us and show us our way. We will know that the Resurrection of Jesus Christ makes all the difference in the universe.
- Father Jim'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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