The Resurrection of the Lord – Year C
Sunday, April 20, 2025
Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia! This ancient Paschal greeting at Easter transitions us beyond the cross to the joy and hope that the risen Christ brings to us. Today, we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the cornerstone of our faith and the hope that springs forth from the empty tomb.
“Mary Magdalene and the holy women who came to finish anointing the body of Jesus, which had been buried in haste because the Sabbath began on the evening of Good Friday, were the first to encounter the Risen One.” —Catechism §641. When Jesus was crucified on Good Friday, Mary Magdalene, along with Jesus’ followers, who were still there when he died, could not properly prepare His body for burial due to the impending Sabbath. So early Easter morning while it was still dark, when the Sabbath ended, driven by love, grief, and customs, Mary Magdalene returned to the tomb to complete the anointing of Jesus’ body with aromatic oils. With the stone covering the tomb removed, she hastily ran to inform Simon Peter and the other disciples that Jesus’ body was stolen. But, when she returned to the tomb, she encountered the risen Jesus transforming her sorrow into joy.
The Resurrection of Jesus is the principal truth of our faith. “The Resurrection of Jesus is the crowning truth of our faith in Christ, a faith believed and lived as the central truth by the first Christian community; handed on as fundamental by Tradition; established by the documents of the New Testament; and preached as an essential part of the Paschal mystery along with the cross: Christ is risen from the dead! Dying, he conquered death; To the dead, he has given life.” —Catechism §638. At times, we are caught in the moment celebrating events such as the Resurrection at mass and with family while being negligent in spending solitary time in reflection on what it means for us. The Resurrection is not just a historical event; it is a living reality that transforms our personal lives daily. We are called as disciples to live as witnesses and continue bringing the good news of the risen Christ to the world, embodying His love, compassion, and forgiveness in our interactions with others. This is the hope the Resurrection gives the believers. St. Paul, in today’s New Testament reading, writes that with Christ, we are raised from the dead, and we must think of and seek what is above, not of what is on earth. We are called to embrace the hope of the resurrection and to live according to God’s will. The Resurrection gives us a new life and the hope to live eternally.
Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! This is not just a factual statement but a call to action. We leave behind our old selves and embrace the new lives He offers us through His death and Resurrection. May the peace of this glorious Easter Sunday fill our hearts as we rise with Him and share His love and hope with all we encounter.
Go in Peace to Love and Serve the Lord.