It is only in the light of the resurrection and our Lord’s Glory that we can make sense of why the human condition is what it is.  Why in the human condition we experience pain and sorrow, why there is difficulty and strife.  We were created in the image and likeness of God the Almighty Father; we were created for him, we belong to him.  He sent his only Son to bring the Good News of salvation to the whole world and to show us the way, the truth, and the life through Jesus Christ.

Jesus transcended the human condition and was resurrected for our sakes.  We are to proclaim the Good News about how Jesus has helped us and has shown us the way to enter the Kingdom of God, even though we struggle, sacrifice and experience pain and death.  We hesitate because we do not understand what it means to be resurrected into new life or how pain, sorrow and difficulties can lead us to victory and great blessings.

We are like the disciples on the first Easter morning; we are confused and bewildered.  Only we experience something quite different from them how out of their sadness and confusion they discovered their true calling, their vocation.  

They directly realized that they had been commissioned to testify and to teach that Jesus is the Savior of the world.  The difference between us and them is they fully embraced their vocation even in the face of all that had happened.  To “testify” means to share the truth based on your own experiences.  We will not understand how our sufferings lead us to new life until we start talking about it.

The first feelings of insight will awaken when we discuss it within our close friends in a holy, happy and healthy manner, like Mary Magdalene did when she ran to Peter and John after discovering the empty tomb.  Peter and John then told the other disciples and it was while they were together, in community, that Jesus appeared and revealed his resurrection to them.  With the help of the Holy Spirit, they evangelized to the world by sharing their experiences with anyone willing to listen.  In the light of the resurrection each of us is called to do the same. 

Happy Easter! 

With faith, hope and love,
Father Steven C. Rogers