Every Easter we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus and, with Jesus, the Resurrection of all who believe in Him.

Let me explain.

First of all, Easter is about the Rising of Jesus from the dead and the joyful outcome of his life of service. All the evil and death-dealing forces of the world could not destroy him for He is risen from the dead, and He is alive!

Secondly, Easter is also about our resurrection too. People find it easier, I suspect, to accept Christ’s Resurrection than their own personal Resurrection which Christ made possible at Easter. The theological truth is that we have been raised from the dead because Jesus has freed us from death to sin. Death to sin is worse than death of the body because it is spiritual death. Spiritual death is enslavement to base passions and desires, to entrapment in a world of evil, prejudice, malice, and viciousness. We have been set free from slavery to those kind of chains by Jesus who has liberated us. What a reason to rejoice then. What a reason for giving thanks to God for such a blessed gift on this wonderful day!

The New Life of the Resurrection is the good news that Jesus preached while he walked the earth. Accept this good news of the gospel and you will be free! Accept this good news and you will find your bliss. The Scripture tells us that God created all of nature, including human nature, and that it was good. But, scripture also reminds us that the people we live with and the world we live in can lead us astray if they are not redeemed by grace.

The Easter message shows what can happen when people give God a chance. God can raise us up if we work with his grace. He can raise us up right now, give us new life, help us to fight corruption, make us whole and fill us with joy.

That is what Easter is all about.

Be grateful you can rise every morning to a brand new day. Be grateful for good friends, tried and true. Be grateful that God’s grace is at work in your family, in your community, in your church, and with whomever you meet and wherever you go. The goodness of God is everywhere if you respond to His grace by casting aside jealousy, pettiness, vindictiveness, deceit, double-dealing, and all forms of worldly selfishness. These base instincts have no place in the lives of Easter people.

Break forth in freedom and inner song this blessed day for Jesus, our Savior, has risen. Alleluia!

—Fr. Hugh Duffy