This blog is based on references in the Bible to fear. God wills that we “BE NOT AFRAID”. Many theologians state that the eighth deadly sin is fear. It is fear and its natural animal reaction to fight or flight that is the root cause of our failings to create a Kingdom of God on earth. By “the power of the Holy Spirit” we can be witnesses and “communicators” of a new and redeemed humanity “even to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:7 8). This blog is dedicated to Mary the Mother of God.
Thus says
the Lord GOD: I will destroy idols, and put an end to images in Memphis. There
will never again be a prince over the land of Egypt. Instead, I will spread FEAR throughout the land of Egypt.
Ancient
Egypt was a magnificent civilization, until it suddenly vanished in the sixth
century B.C...
In chapters 29 and 30 of Ezekiel,
we read of God sending the Prophet Ezekiel to deliver a crucial message to
Egypt. “Set thy face against Pharaoh king of Egypt,” God instructs Ezekiel,
“and prophesy against him, and against all
Egypt” (Ezekiel 29:2). The biblical record shows that Ezekiel was
dispatched to Egypt and that he delivered his message to Pharaoh Apries (Hophra
in Hebrew), the fourth king of the 26th dynasty of Egypt. Egypt was a powerful,
influential civilization. In fact, Egypt’s presence was so impressive, Apries,
thought himself king of the world, as powerful as God Himself. Pharaoh Apries
considered the Nile River, the source of Egypt’s material greatness, to be his
own creation, and he declared himself the god of the Nile. Drunk on arrogance,
Apries had lost sight of Egypt’s history with God and the Israelites. So God
dispatched Ezekiel to warn Apries of where his egotism was leading and to tell
him that God would expose and destroy him, and that in Egypt’s devastation the
world would learn the ultimate source of Egypt’s power. In verse 3, God tells
Ezekiel: “Speak, and say, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against thee,
Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon that lieth in the midst of his rivers,
which hath said, My river is mine own, and I have made it for myself.” God was
going to show Pharaoh Apries exactly who created the Nile and gave Egypt all
its power. In verse 4, God tells the pharaoh, “I will put hooks in thy jaws,
and I will cause the fish of thy rivers to stick unto thy scales, and I will
bring thee up out of the midst of thy rivers, and all the fish of thy rivers
shall stick unto thy scales.” God said He would expose Pharaoh Apries as a
fraud—much like He had exposed the gods of Egypt during the 10 plagues nearly a
thousand years earlier! God continues His warning in verses 8-10: “Therefore
thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will bring a sword upon thee, and cut off
man and beast out of thee. And the land of Egypt shall be desolate and waste;
and they shall know that I am the Lord: because he hath said, The River is
mine, and I have made it. Behold, therefore I am against thee, and against thy
rivers, and I will make the land of Egypt utterly waste and desolate, from the
tower of Syene even unto the border of Ethiopia.” In verse 19, Ezekiel even
reveals to Apries that he would be attacked by the armies of Nebuchadnezzar,
king of Babylon. In scripture after scripture of chapters 29 and 30, God warns
the pharaoh that Egypt’s destruction at the hands of the Babylonians and
Persians would be so disastrous that it would never fully recover! Then,
in verse 15, God makes a prophecy that would change Egypt forever. Regarding
Egypt’s future after the destruction, He says explicitly: “It shall be the basest of the kingdoms; neither shall it exalt
itself any more above the nations: for I will diminish them that they shall no more rule over the nations.” God
couldn’t have been clearer: He promised that after the sixth century B.C. Egypt would never again be a major ruling power!
One
wonders if we here in America have become the basest of nations due to our
nation’s secular media driven leadership.
According to John Maxwell, “It is God who
raises up leaders and who removes them from office; our job is to submit to His
bidding. Leaders commonly misunderstand this truth. God says that whether
leaders are good or evil, He ultimately is the He who puts them there—and He
will remove them.”
Every Wednesday is
Dedicated to St. Joseph
The Italian culture has
always had a close association with St. Joseph perhaps you could make
Wednesdays centered around Jesus’s Papa. Plan an Italian dinner of pizza or
spaghetti after attending Mass as most parishes have a Wednesday evening Mass.
You could even do carry out to help restaurants. If you are adventurous, you
could do the Universal Man Plan: St. Joseph style. Make the evening a family
night perhaps it could be a game night. Whatever you do make the day special.
CHAPTER TWO-I BELIEVE IN JESUS
CHRIST, THE ONLY SON OF GOD
Article 6 "HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN AND IS SEATED AT
THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER"
659 "So then the
Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down
at the right hand of God." Christ's body was glorified at the moment
of his Resurrection, as proved by the new and supernatural properties it subsequently
and permanently enjoys. But during the forty days when he eats and drinks
familiarly with his disciples and teaches them about the kingdom, his glory
remains veiled under the appearance of ordinary humanity. Jesus' final
apparition ends with the irreversible entry of his humanity into divine glory,
symbolized by the cloud and by heaven, where he is seated from that time
forward at God's right hand. Only in a wholly exceptional and unique way
would Jesus show himself to Paul "as to one untimely born", in a last
apparition that established him as an apostle.
660 The veiled
character of the glory of the Risen One during this time is intimated in his
mysterious words to Mary Magdalene: "I have not yet ascended to the
Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and
your Father, to my God and your God." This indicates a difference in
manifestation between the glory of the risen Christ and that of the Christ
exalted to the Father's right hand, a transition marked by the historical and
transcendent event of the Ascension.
661 This final stage
stays closely linked to the first, that is, to his descent from heaven in the
Incarnation. Only the one who "came from the Father" can return to
the Father: Christ Jesus. "No one has ascended into heaven but he who
descended from heaven, the Son of man." Left to its own natural
power’s humanity does not have access to the "Father's house", to
God's life and happiness. Only Christ can open to man such access that we,
his members, might have confidence that we too shall go where he, our Head and
our Source, has preceded us.
662 "and I, when
I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." The
lifting up of Jesus on the cross signifies and announces his lifting up by his
Ascension into heaven, and indeed begins it. Jesus Christ, the one priest of
the new and eternal Covenant, "entered, not into a sanctuary made by human
hands. . . but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our
behalf." There Christ permanently exercises his priesthood, for he
"always lives to make intercession" for "those who draw near to
God through him". As "high priest of the good things to
come" he is the center and the principal actor of the liturgy that honors
the Father in heaven.
663 Henceforth Christ
is seated at the right hand of the Father: "By 'the Father's right hand'
we understand the glory and honour of divinity, where he who exists as Son of
God before all ages, indeed as God, of one being with the Father, is seated
bodily after he became incarnate, and his flesh was glorified."
664 Being seated at
the Father's right hand signifies the inauguration of the Messiah's kingdom,
the fulfilment of the prophet Daniel's vision concerning the Son of man:
"To him was given dominion and glory and kingdom, that all peoples,
nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting
dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be
destroyed." After this event the apostles became witnesses of the
"kingdom [that] will have no end".
Frank Capra
Born 1897 Film Director
Like the gospel
parables, Capra's films show us how love, a gift freely given, comes to
ordinary reality and changes it in extraordinary ways in other words, how the
transcendent disrupts the course of human events. In It's a Wonderful Life, a
work of theological optimism, a representative of the divine comes to earth to
offer salvation to a soul in despair. The hero arrives at his salvation only
after undergoing an experience of powerlessness. His prayer of desolation
"Lord, I'm at the end of my rope" recalls the loneliness of our
Lord's cry in Gethsemane. The pattern is completed with George's resurrection,
when he realizes that in spite of its imperfections, life is still wonderful.
His love an analogy for Christ's love has created a spiritual community, a
tangible manifestation of the kingdom of God. Capra's cinema reminds us that
this imperfect world can be redeemed, that the reward is worth the fight, and
that life is a gift to be treasured.[2]
Peace, I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives
do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or AFRAID.
Shalom, which means peace, is a Hebrew
salutation. Yet Christ tells us that HIS shalom is different. It is a gift of
salvation a messianic blessing.
Through the spirit we are born again, sons and
daughters of the eternal. The world and its attractions to sin lose its sparkle
to us. Yes, we may fall from time to time, but the spirit and peace of Christ
is always with us, and we rise up again.
10 things happy professionals do
before 10 a.m.[1]
Success often seems like a visionary goal — a feat
in life that’s attempted only after many strides, plenty of pitfalls and a
healthy serving of endurance. However, for those who consider themselves
fulfilled by their career, it’s not only a sense of accomplishment and an
impressive LinkedIn profile that defines their satisfaction with their work. In
fact, their overall desire to work harder and effectively doesn’t just stem
from extra zeros on their paycheck, but rather, it derives from a place of
happiness. As the old rhyme reminds, contentment isn’t a destination, but a
process — and if you’re smart, a priority for both your professional and
personal life. How do you carve in time to, well, improve your overall mood and
outlook?
Here, life coaches and psychologists explain the joint
secrets happy professionals share:
1. They
get enough sleep
Even if college was many
moons ago, you’ve likely pulled an all-nighter in the past year. Or you’ve been
so overworked and double-booked that you spent more time tossing and turning
than resting. For those people who wake up ready – and elated – to tackle the
day ahead, the eight hours that come before the alarm clock dings are just as
important as the minutes that follow it. As licensed therapist Melody Li explains, many workers overlook
the power of a good night’s sleep in an effort to push their minds and bodies
to the limit. As studies indicate and Li reminds, not reaping the rewards of
shuteye usually results in poor memory, difficulty problem-solving and
unexplained ups and downs. Professionals who tuck themselves into bed instead
of watching Netflix (or their favorite YouTube videos on repeat)? They wake up
in better spirits.
2. They
take their time
Sure, there are some mornings
that warrant that tempting snooze button, but to rise on the right side of the
bed, yoga therapist and natural health expert Dr. Lynn Anderson Ph.D., giving yourself
time to linger is key. When you feel frazzled or pressed for time, you’ll not
only make more mistakes which can bum-out your confidence levels, but you don’t
allow yourself to ease into the day’s tasks in an enjoyable manner. “Get up
early enough to relax, enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and organize the day.
Rushing and running late leads to stress and stress is like a fire extinguisher
for happiness. It’s a poisonous gas that makes a mess. Being organized and
relaxed creates happiness,” she shares.
3. They
make their bed
Seems simple enough, but how
often do you leave your apartment or home in shambles? It’s easy to forget in
the hustle of the morning, but motivational speaker and workplace expert Amy Cooper Hakim, Ph.D. says there’s a sense of
glee found when your living area is prime. “A happy professional builds
confidence and self-efficacy by completing a simple chore like making her bed
before heading to the office. This act sets a ‘can do’ mindset into motion for
the day. It’s an easy task to check off the to-do list,” she shares. “When
we accomplish one item on our agenda, we are more driven to accomplish others.
Also, as a double bonus, many find it especially comforting and gratifying to
climb into a made bed at the end of a long day!”
4. They
are able to see gratitude and practice humility
We all have that Wonder
Woman (or man) in our life that seemingly glides through life, experiencing it
all with ease. They’re top of their game at work, thoughtful and kind to
others, brave to their core, and overall, rather funny. If you dig a little
deeper, you’ll notice a common thread of humility in these happy-go-lucky,
positive-thinking individuals. Career coach and shamanic practitioner John Moore explains that those who
exercise gratitude as part of their daily routine tend to be more joyful, in
life and in work. He adds that research even indicates thankful people have
better relationships and more enduring psychological health.
5. They
set daily goals
Yep, you read that
correctly: Happy professionals are masters of setting micro, 24/7 goals that
keep them on the right track. As career and branding expert Wendi Weiner explains, those who are able to
turnaround the best work with the best attitude take the time to plan ahead, so
they aren’t caught in a bind or a last-minute deadline that slipped off their
radar. “These are non-negotiable tasks that must be completed for that day. The
reason for this is that when you actually achieve what you set out to achieve,
that will raise the level of happiness and personal satisfaction,” she says.
6. They
communicate with others
Those people who are nearly
always smiling — and not faking it, but really grinning their heart out —
usually want to spend time with one another. Moore explains that the pull comes
from a part in our brains called the ‘anterior cingulate cortex’ which measures
social status, as well as pain and a high number of opiate receptors. “Social
exclusion registers in the brain much like physical pain. In studies, one of
the greatest predictors of happiness is the breadth of social networks,” he
says.
Even if you don’t start
chatting up a storm with your partner or your morning-hating roommate, Moore
says you’ll start the day off brighter if you, at the very least, communicate
in some way. “Happy professionals focus some of their morning time growing and
nurturing social connections. Check in with friends, meet someone for coffee,
chat up the cute barista — just start talking!” he says.
7. They
keep their calendars open
It might be difficult to
tango around time zones if you have international clients, but if you can help
it, health coach Kenneth
Rippetoe recommends keeping your calendar completely free until after 10
a.m. This gives you time to prepare for your day and be mindful of the moments
you’re giving your energy to others, instead of always being readily available.
“Practice being intentional with your time and resources. When you are
intentional, you make the choices that do align with your value system and
goals for your personal and professional life,” he explains.
8. They
focus on the present and future, not the past
Ask anyone who has been able
to send away the skeletons in their closet and they’ll agree that releasing the
mistakes of yesteryear was the first step. If you find yourself dreading each
day or feeling anxious about how your career will exceed, Weiner suggests
taking a page from the notebook of joy-focused professionals who make a habit
of living in the moment and preparing for the future with a solid outlook. “Happy
professionals will concentrate their focus on the present things they are doing
and the present goals they want to achieve as well as the future things they
plan to do and/or achieve,” she explains. “Their energy will concentrate less
on regrets, and more on taking chances and risks to maximize their happiness.”
9. They
complete a task that makes them feel powerful
Perhaps it was after you ran
your very first 5K. Or landed a client that took months to romance. Or when you
finally took the plunge and checked ‘bungee jumping’ off your bucket list.
While you can’t perform one-of-a-kind feats every single day (sadly), Li
stresses the importance of completing something in the A.M. that set you up to
feel powerful throughout the day. Though every person will sing a different
tune, it’s most important that you strategize your day to make time for this
task. “For many, it’s some type of physical activity like running, swimming, or
lifting. For others, it might be solving a tricky puzzle or crossword. It could
be meditating, dancing to energetic music, or even stretching,” she explains.
“Whatever that looks like to you, spend at least 15 minutes doing something
that reinforces the strength that you hold within and carry this sense of power
with you into your day.”
10. They
visualize their success
Much like amping up for the
future — whether it’s a month, a year or a decade away — psychologist and
relationship expert Anotina Hall says
happy careers are much like flourishing love affairs. To truly find the grace
and vulnerability in the positions you’re in, you have to be courageous enough
to imagine your future. As Hall explains, “Studies have shown that by spending
even a few minutes each morning to visualize your goals coming to fruition with
ease increases the likelihood of successfully accomplishing those goals.
“See your upcoming meeting
in vivid detail, visualizing the desired outcome will help make it go well and
build your confidence!”
·At
Iwo Jima, Marine Chaplain Father Charles Suver celebrated Holy Mass shortly
before the raising of the U.S. flag on Mount Suribachi by the Marines. Debate
has been inconclusive whether it was the first less known or the second more
well-known raising of the flag that is now immortalized in history. Regardless
of which flag raising it was Father Suver could still hear Japanese voices
in the nearby caves as he said the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass!
·Fr.
Charles Watters in Vietnam shortly before his death in November, 1967. Chaplain Watters was awarded the Medal of
Honor for bravery
under fire. Once he linked up with the Marines they told him to leave as it was
too dangerous. Father McGonigal refused and ministered aid and Last Rites to
the wounded and dying. He was killed on February 17, 1968 trying to rescue a
wounded Marine. The Marines later dedicated a chapel at Camp Pendleton in his
honor to the service he gave to the Marines at Hue.
The Pinot Grigio complements any
meal but sometimes it’s best by itself. Lorrie C
If
you’re a wine aficionado, you know that there’s nothing quite like the fresh
taste of a great vintage of wine to go with an incredible meal. There are so
many vintages to choose from it can sometimes be a challenge to find the
perfect pairing. Thankfully, there’s Pinot Grigio, an incredible wine that’s
been known for hundreds of years in the world’s most respected wine regions.
Pinot Grigio Pinot Grigio Day celebrates this astonishing wine and its ability
to be paired with just about anything, or just enjoyed on its own.
History of Pinot Grigio Day
Pinot
Grigio has a long history, as we already mentioned above, and shares part of
its genetic heritage with Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. As the years went by it
came to be one of the most popular vintages to be grown and produced, with over
15,000 Hectares being used to grow the grape necessary to produce it. If you’ve
never had this fine wine and want to know how it tastes, it has been described
as having an acidic, lighter-bodied flavor, most of the noted as having a
recognizable ‘spiciness’ to them.
Depending
on where you’re getting your Pinot Grigio from it may come under a different
name, with examples being the Auxerrois Gris from Alsace, the Grauer Monch from
Germany, and the Rulander from Romania. While the basic profile of the wine
remains the same, there are variations based on where and how its produced that
lead to sweeter and drier varieties being available. Pinot Grigio Day is your opportunity
to go out and buy a bottle or ten and start sampling a delicious variety of
what the world has to offer in the way of excellent wines.
How to celebrate Pinot Grigio Day
As
we already mentioned there’s no better way to celebrate this day than by
getting yourself a fine bottle of Pinot Grigio and pouring it out with some
friends. Given that there are multiple varieties of this wine it could be good
to schedule a wine tasting where everyone brings a bottle of Pinot Grigio from
a different region, to ensure that everyone gets the chance to enjoy the wide
world of Pinot Grigio. Don’t let this holiday pass you by without taking the
time to appreciate one of viticultures finest products.
Things
you can do with Pinot Grigio besides drinking it!
Of
course, having a delicious glass of Pinot Grigio is the best way to celebrate
this day! However, there are a number of other things that you can do with
Pinot Grigio, aside from drinking it. There are so many different recipes that
call for Pinot Grigio. So, why not celebrate with a delicious meal
incorporating Pinot Grigio and a glass of the wine to wash it down with? Fish
dishes always work really well with this type of wine. Nevertheless, there are
many other recipes whereby Pinot Grigio can be incorporated.
Did
you know that you can use Pinot Grigio in a pie and tart crust? You have
probably heard about creating a tender pie crust with vodka. However, you can
also use this delicious white wine. The science is very similar. Unlike water,
gluten is not created when flour and alcohol or mixed together. If you overwork
gluten, baked goods can end up tough. Therefore, you can enjoy a much more
tender crust if you use less gluten. Moreover, the touch of Pinot Grigio is
going to add a bit of sweetness to the crust as well, so it’s a win-win!
If
you’re looking for a great dinner idea to go with your bottle of white wine on
Pinot Grigio day, how about a chicken cacciatore? In some countries, the
tomato-based version of this dish is more well-known. However, with this
version, chicken is served with a white sauce. You can prepare this with red
chillis, oil, and garlic. You can then add some olives and a bottle of pinot
grigio, cooking it for a long time so that all of the flavors are melded
together properly. Ten minutes before you are finished cooking, add plenty of
fresh rosemary to the sauce.
If
this doesn’t sound like the right dish for you, how about a pasta carbonara?
You can add more flavor to your pasta dish by adding a splash of Pinot Grigio
to the pan after the pancetta has been sauteed. You won’t look back after
trying this version. There is a gamey aftertaste to the smoked pancetta cubes.
However, you can get rid of this with the Pinot Grigio, which makes the pure
pancetta flavor outstanding. It really takes your dish to the next level, and
this is a sort of concept that can be applied to a lot of different dishes when
it comes to adding Pinot Grigio.
Last
but not least, why not create your own cocktail with Pinot Grigio? Of course,
you’re still going to be technically drinking it, but we’ve bent the rules a
little bit for this one! There are some amazing Pinot Grigio cocktails on the
Internet. Spend some time looking for a recipe you love. One of our favorites
is a Hugo Spritzer. To make this cocktail, you will need your favorite Pinot
Grigio (or any old bottle!) combined with soda water, elderflower syrup, mint
leaves, some wedges of lime, and some ice. It’s a refreshing cocktail, which
goes down a treat.
Catechism
of the Catholic Church
PART ONE: THE PROFESSION OF FAITH
SECTION TWO I. THE CREEDS
CHAPTER TWO-I BELIEVE IN JESUS
CHRIST, THE ONLY SON OF GOD
Article
5 "HE DESCENDED INTO HELL. ON THE THIRD DAY HE ROSE AGAIN"
Paragraph 2. ON THE THIRD DAY HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD
638
"We bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, this
day he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus." 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.
I. THE HISTORICAL AND TRANSCENDENT
EVENT
639 The
mystery of Christ's resurrection is a real event, with manifestations that were
historically verified, as the New Testament bear’s witness. In about A.D. 56
St. Paul could already write to the Corinthians: "I delivered to you as of
first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins in
accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, that he was raised on
the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to
Cephas, then to the Twelve. . ." The Apostle speaks here of the
living tradition of the Resurrection which he had learned after his conversion
at the gates of Damascus.
The empty tomb
640
"Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has
risen." The first element we encounter in the framework of the Easter
events is the empty tomb. In itself it is not a direct proof of Resurrection;
the absence of Christ's body from the tomb could be explained otherwise. Nonetheless
the empty tomb was still an essential sign for all. Its discovery by the
disciples was the first step toward recognizing the very fact of the
Resurrection. This was the case, first with the holy women, and then with
Peter. The disciple "whom Jesus loved" affirmed that when he
entered the empty tomb and discovered "the linen cloths lying there",
"he saw and believed". This suggests that he realized from the
empty tomb's condition that the absence of Jesus' body could not have been of
human doing and that Jesus had not simply returned to earthly life as had been
the case with Lazarus.
The appearances of the Risen One
641 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. Thus, the women were
the first messengers of Christ's Resurrection for the apostles themselves. They
were the next to whom Jesus appears: first Peter, then the Twelve. Peter had
been called to strengthen the faith of his brothers, and so sees the Risen
One before them; it is on the basis of his testimony that the community
exclaims: "The Lord has risen indeed and has appeared to Simon!"
642
Everything that happened during those Paschal days involves each of the
apostles - and Peter in particular - in the building of the new era begun on
Easter morning. As witnesses of the Risen One, they remain the foundation
stones of his Church. the faith of the first community of believers is based on
the witness of concrete men known to the Christians and for the most part still
living among them. Peter and the Twelve are the primary "witnesses to his
Resurrection", but they are not the only ones - Paul speaks clearly of
more than five hundred persons to whom Jesus appeared on a single occasion and
also of James and of all the apostles.
643
Given all these testimonies, Christ's Resurrection cannot be interpreted as
something outside the physical order, and it is impossible not to acknowledge
it as an historical fact. It is clear from the facts that the disciples' faith
was drastically put to the test by their master's Passion and death on the
cross, which he had foretold. The shock provoked by the Passion was so
great that at least some of the disciples did not at once believe in the news
of the Resurrection. Far from showing us a community seized by a mystical
exaltation, the Gospels present us with disciples demoralized ("looking
sad") and frightened. For they had not believed the holy women returning
from the tomb and had regarded their words as an "idle tale". When
Jesus reveals himself to the Eleven on Easter evening, "he upbraided them
for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those
who saw him after he had risen."
644 Even
when faced with the reality of the risen Jesus the disciples are still doubtful,
so impossible did the thing seem: they thought they were seeing a ghost.
"In their joy they were still disbelieving and still wondering." Thomas
will also experience the test of doubt and St. Matthew relates that during the
risen Lord's last appearance in Galilee "some doubted." Therefore
the hypothesis that the Resurrection was produced by the apostles' faith (or
credulity) will not hold up. On the contrary their faith in the Resurrection
was born, under the action of divine grace, from their direct experience of the
reality of the risen Jesus.
The condition of Christ's risen
humanity
645 By
means of touch and the sharing of a meal, the risen Jesus establishes direct
contact with his disciples. He invites them in this way to recognize that he is
not a ghost and above all to verify that the risen body in which he appears to
them is the same body that had been tortured and crucified, for it still bears
the traces of his Passion. Yet at the same time this authentic, real body
possesses the new properties of a glorious body: not limited by space and time
but able to be present how and when he wills; for Christ's humanity can no
longer be confined to earth and belongs henceforth only to the Father's divine
realm. For this reason, too the risen Jesus enjoys the sovereign freedom
of appearing as he wishes: in the guise of a gardener or in other forms
familiar to his disciples, precisely to awaken their faith.
646
Christ's Resurrection was not a return to earthly life, as was the case with
the raisings from the dead that he had performed before Easter: Jairus'
daughter, the young man of Naim, Lazarus. These actions were miraculous events,
but the persons miraculously raised returned by Jesus' power to ordinary
earthly life. At some particular moment they would die again. Christ's
Resurrection is essentially different. In his risen body he passes from the
state of death to another life beyond time and space. At Jesus' Resurrection
his body is filled with the power of the Holy Spirit: he shares the divine life
in his glorious state, so that St. Paul can say that Christ is "the man of
heaven".
The Resurrection as transcendent
event
647 O
truly blessed Night, sings the Exsultet of the Easter Vigil, which alone
deserved to know the time and the hour when Christ rose from the realm of the
dead! But no one was an eyewitness to Christ's Resurrection and no
evangelist describes it. No one can say how it came about physically. Still
less was its innermost essence, his passing over to another life, perceptible
to the senses. Although the Resurrection was an historical event that could be
verified by the sign of the empty tomb and by the reality of the apostles'
encounters with the risen Christ, still it remains at the very heart of the
mystery of faith as something that transcends and surpasses history. This is
why the risen Christ does not reveal himself to the world, but to his
disciples, "to those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who
are now his witnesses to the people."
II. THE RESURRECTION - A WORK OF
THE HOLY TRINITY
648
Christ's Resurrection is an object of faith in that it is a transcendent
intervention of God himself in creation and history. In it the three divine
persons act together as one and manifest their own proper characteristics. the
Father's power "raised up" Christ his Son and by doing so perfectly
introduced his Son's humanity, including his body, into the Trinity. Jesus is
conclusively revealed as "Son of God in power according to the Spirit of
holiness by his Resurrection from the dead". St. Paul insists on the
manifestation of God's power through the working of the Spirit who gave
life to Jesus' dead humanity and called it to the glorious state of Lordship.
649 As
for the Son, he effects his own Resurrection by virtue of his divine power.
Jesus announces that the Son of man will have to suffer much, die, and then
rise. Elsewhere he affirms explicitly: "I lay down my life, that I
may take it again. . . I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it
again." "We believe that Jesus died and rose again."
650 The
Fathers contemplate the Resurrection from the perspective of the divine person
of Christ who remained united to his soul and body, even when these were
separated from each other by death: "By the unity of the divine nature,
which remains present in each of the two components of man, these are reunited.
For as death is produced by the separation of the human components, so
Resurrection is achieved by the union of the two."
III. THE MEANING AND SAVING
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE RESURRECTION
651
"If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your
faith is in vain." The Resurrection above all constitutes the
confirmation of all Christ's works and teachings. All truths, even those most
inaccessible to human reason, find their justification if Christ by his
Resurrection has given the definitive proof of his divine authority, which he
had promised.
652
Christ's Resurrection is the fulfilment of the promises both of the Old
Testament and of Jesus himself during his earthly life. The phrase
"in accordance with the Scriptures" indicates that Christ's
Resurrection fulfilled these predictions.
653 The
truth of Jesus' divinity is confirmed by his Resurrection. He had said:
"When you have lifted up the Son of man, then you will know that I am
he." The Resurrection of the crucified one shows that he was truly
"I AM", the Son of God and God himself. So St. Paul could declare to
the Jews: "What God promised to the fathers, this he has fulfilled to us
their children by raising Jesus; as also it is written in the second psalm,
'You are my Son, today I have begotten you.'" Christ's Resurrection
is closely linked to the Incarnation of God's Son, and is its fulfilment in
accordance with God's eternal plan.
654 The
Paschal mystery has two aspects: by his death, Christ liberates us from sin; by
his Resurrection, he opens for us the way to a new life. This new life is above
all justification that reinstates us in God's grace, "so that as Christ
was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in
newness of life." Justification consists in both victory over the death
caused by sin and a new participation in grace. It brings about filial
adoption so that men become Christ's brethren, as Jesus himself called his
disciples after his Resurrection: "Go and tell my brethren." We
are brethren not by nature, but by the gift of grace, because that adoptive
filiation gains us a real share in the life of the only Son, which was fully
revealed in his Resurrection.
655
Finally, Christ's Resurrection - and the risen Christ himself is the principle
and source of our future resurrection: "Christ has been raised from the
dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. . . For as in Adam all
die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive." The risen Christ
lives in the hearts of his faithful while they await that fulfilment. In
Christ, Christians "have tasted. . . the powers of the age to come" and
their lives are swept up by Christ into the heart of divine life, so that they
may "live no longer for themselves but for him who for their sake died and
was raised."
IN BRIEF
656 Faith in the Resurrection has as its object an event which
as historically attested to by the disciples, who really encountered the Risen
One. At the same time, this event is mysteriously transcendent insofar as it is
the entry of Christ's humanity into the glory of God.
657 The empty tomb and the linen cloths lying there signify in
themselves that by God's power Christ's body had escaped the bonds of death and
corruption. They prepared the disciples to encounter the Risen Lord.
658 Christ, "the first-born from the dead" (Col
1:18), is the principle of our own resurrection, even now by the justification
of our souls (cf Rom 6:4), and one day by the new life he will impart to our
bodies (cf Rom 8:11).
·Cannes Film Festival—May
17-28--La lumière, la caméra, l'action! Slip on some shades,
and head to the French Riviera for the largest annual showcase of cinema in the
world. Don’t have a ticket to events inside the Palais des Festivals et des
Congres building where the festival is held? Pas de probleme! Enjoy open-air shows
at the Cinema de la Plage, and for celebrity sightings show up extra-early
outside the Palais. You may just spot Ang Lee, Nicole Kidman or Steven
Spielberg on this year’s red carpet.
