Easter - He Is Risen

St Paul makes this most striking statement; in his first letter to the Church in Corinth he writes: For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all (people) men most to be pitied. 1 Cor. 15:16 That is why today, Easter, is the most important day we own! I encourage you to take your scriptures and read the four gospel accounts of the resurrection of Jesus. Look at the people and the effect it has on them. See yourself right there is the midst of these wondrous happenings. Now remember, many, including the Pharisees did expect there was to be a resurrection . . . but more like the resurrection Ezekiel describes in the vision of the “Dry Bones” - people wake up in their graves and be themselves again . . . living here on earth as they had been. (LINK) But this Jesus . . . this body he has . . . the totally new way he lives and is present to them . . . they are overwhelmed, over joyed, dumbfounded. Jesus has to demonstrate in various ways that it is he. It is Jesus, yet his body is not bound by the laws of nature as they know them to be. But let us grasp why today is the quintessential, the most important day of the Christian faith as St. Paul has pointed out. Today we come to the intersection of all belief, several roads to choose are before us. Some take a road leading to other religions. Some take the road of no religion; the agnostic, the atheist. How many seem to be taking that road today. Many just stand there confused, seemingly unable to know which way to go. You will see them all in the resurrection stories. But now it is our turn to choose. Which road do I choose? Today the Church replaces the usual recitation of the Creed with the renewal of our baptism promises. Today, we too who stand at that crossroad of all crossroads will be challenged to make our decision. Which road do I choose for my life? Who do I believe?

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Renewal of Baptism Commitment Dear brothers and sisters, through the Paschal mystery we have been buried with Christ in Baptism, so that we may walk with him in newness of life. and so, now that our Lenten observance is concluded, let us renew the promises of holy Baptism, by which we once renounced Satan and his works and promised to serve God in the holy Catholic Church. Do you renounce Satan? And all his works? And all his empty show? Do you renounce sin, so as to live in the freedom of the children of God? Do you renounce the lure of evil, so that sin may have no mastery over you? Do you renounce Satan, the author and prince of sin? Do you believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth? Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only son, our lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary, suffered death and was buried, rose again from the dead and is seated at the right hand of the Father? Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting? May almighty God, the Father of our lord Jesus Christ, who has given us new birth by water and the holy spirit and bestowed on us forgiveness of our sins, keep us by his grace, in Christ Jesus our lord, for eternal life. all: amen.

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