My dear people:


A pious practice which has fallen out of use is the greeting among Christians, which we should all do all the time this time of year: “The Lord is Risen!” Our response to that is to say, “The Lord is truly Risen!”
 
Today we know how the greatest story of all time ends. It ends with the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  We know how this greatest drama is completed: with the good guys winning. It ends with life defeating death, with truth triumphing over lies.  It ends with love winning over hatred.  It ends with hope over despair, and faith over doubt.  It ends with Christ over Satan.  It ends with light over darkness, and life over death.  We are an intimate part of this story so, in Christ, we also know how our own story is going to end. And that is why we gather today, and every Sunday: to celebrate how Easter is not something only of the historical past, but that today, we, too, have part in Christ’s life and Resurrection - in this we shall know how our own story will end, but only if we stay close to him.
 
I guarantee that every person in this Church this morning has experienced problems. I guarantee that every person in this church has experienced suffering, you have experienced loss, and every one of us, to one degree or another, has experienced betrayal and heartbreak. If Christ risen and alive and triumphant is not real, then your obstacles mean nothing; if the Resurrection is not real then your sufferings mean nothing; if the Resurrection is not real then your heartbreak means nothing. But, as it is, the Resurrection is real and Christ risen and alive and triumphant is real, and God's promises have been made good.  That means that your life, your suffering, your promises, and your joys all mean something because you have eternal meaning. None of us are going to live for only a time, but forever. Now, we have something to hope for: a destiny that is (literally) heaven because you have been grafted onto Christ, and onto his Resurrection. You can place all of your hope in this firm foundation. This reality should bring energy into our lives.


Padre