It all comes down to this.
From today’s Scripture: “…if Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain;….”—1 Cor 15:17
Jesus wasn’t the first person to claim to be the messiah, and he wasn’t the last. The Jewish people waited a long time, with many hoping for a political/military savior. Jesus was something else, building a kingdom not of this world. While he was alive he worked many miracles, but again, others had seemed to work miracles before. What made Jesus different?
In the end, Jesus performed the ultimate miracle in conquering death itself. The grave could not hold the author of life. St. Paul tells us today that Christ’s resurrection is the entire crux of the faith. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, our faith is in vain. But Jesus did rise from the dead, and now the gates of heaven are open to us.
Let us pray: Grant me faith, O Lord Jesus, in your death, resurrection and ascension into heaven.
Today’s author is John Stegeman, Manager of Communications for Glenmary Home Missioners. He and his wife are raising four sons. This week’s reflections are also in Spanish, available by email.
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