This is the central mystery of our faith -- the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. It stands at the heart of all we believe for if God did not raise Jesus from the dead, our faith is in vain. If God did not raise Jesus from the dead, we are still in our sins, there is no reason for the church, there is no reason for the sacraments. There would be no reason to celebrate this day. But Christ IS risen. Christ is truly risen. Alleluia!

In raising Jesus from the dead, God assured us the good news Jesus proclaimed is true. By raising Jesus from the dead, God conquered the power of death and forgave our sins. By raising Jesus from the dead, God has given us the sure hope that those who live in and with Christ will be raised with Christ into new life.

What does it mean to say that God raised Jesus from the dead? It does not mean that Jesus returned to his former way of life. If that was the meaning of his resurrection, Jesus would have to die again and death would be victorious. Rather, His resurrection was his entrance into a new life that we will not understand until we experience our own resurrection from the dead.

When God raised Jesus from the dead, Jesus entered into the fullness of the kingdom of God and entered into a realm of life over which death has no power. Jesus now lives with God in a way that we cannot imagine -- death has no power over Him and He will never die again.

What happened to Christ will happen to us if we remain faithful to Christ. For just as God raised Jesus from the dead, so God will raise us from the dead. And just as Jesus entered into an entirely new life, so we will enter into new life if we remain faithful to Christ.

Easter is glorious because it provides us with a hope that will not disappoint -- a hope that God's love is more powerful than death and a hope that we, too, will share in Christ's resurrection.

Enjoy and celebrate this Easter! May it bring you faith and hope -- faith in Christ and hope for eternal life.

Father Matera