I believe in the resurrection of the dead

Friends in the risen Christ, in the first reading today, the people are amazed at the miracle done by St. Peter, in curing the lame man. He asks, why are you amazed? And then he explains to them who is Jesus Christ. Finally he says to the crowd: ‘You put to death, the Author of Life.’    

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– The Author of Life –

This is an astonishing thing – Jesus is God, the Creator of all – yet he became Man, joined himself to the human race; he suffered death. We say in the Creed each Sunday: that Jesus Christ is the Son of God; he is eternally begotten. He is God from God, Light from Light. Just as a candle flame comes from another candle, a flame just like the original, no less in its light. Jesus is ‘God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God.’ He is not made, but is of the same substance as the Father – Divinity. The same substance, ‘Consubstantial.’

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Yet, Jesus united his Divinity to our humanity; he suffered, died and was buried and on the third day rose again. This is the marvelous Easter event: God has walked our walk, lived our life, and even more wondrous, he died our death. But he took into that grave not only one body, but his entire Person, the Mystical Body, the Church. and we have been raised with him he has opened the path to heaven for us. Jesus says, ‘this resurrection of the body will happen to you too. Be part of the resurrection of the just; follow me.’

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I was with a lady today who is completely blind. As we spoke, I told her about the beautiful flowers in the Church for Easter, and that just to smell them, is to think of heaven. ‘In the resurrection, I said, you’ll have your sight back.    – ‘Yes, she said. And how beautiful it will be.’

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We say each Sunday: I believe in the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. This is the Faith. And it makes life worth living.