We, Christians have been making a pilgrimage through the mysteries of Christ viz, His birth, public life, passion, death and Resurrection since last December. In this course, a question naturally erupts in our minds as to which of these mysteries is the most prominent for Catholics. The theologians have been trying to find an answer in different ways down the centuries. Some say that the incarnation is more important as it revealed the “Emmanuel” – God with us. But for some others, it is the public life of Jesus because His words and deeds are of greater concern for us. Still some others find His passion as more foundational. Thus the answers vary from one to the other. In fact, none of these are wrong as each position depends on various individual experiences. As we pass through the memories of his Passion and arrive at the thoughts on Resurrection, let me focus more on the aspect on Resurrection here.

More than as an institutionalized religion, Christianity stands as a movement with a definite vision as envisaged by Christ. Our concern here is to find out what is essential and inevitable in this movement. His radically different thoughts like the Sermon on the Mount emphasizing on the concern for neighbours and the good works he had done to others with his divine power and his selection of twelve apostles to continue his mission are indeed fundamentals for the Church. His absolute commitment to the Father and His people finally led him to Calvary. His unexpected demise had really shattered the poor disciples. They walked away desperately to their own respective chores. To put in other words, the Christian community was on the verge of decline. But this dying movement experienced a resurrection when it witnessed the Risen Lord.

The disciples retuned with all strength and vigour. We no longer see the apostles who are timid and shattered but the apostles who are powerful in spirit and united in vision. They declared, “God raised him, who you crucified and freed him from death;” they became bold and courageous to sacrifice even their lives for the sake of Christ, proclaiming He continues to live with them. St Paul who encountered the Risen Christ became the most zealous missionary and theologian.

The experience of the Risen Lord shouldn’t be merely the philosophy of our faith, rather it should be the driving conviction that should push our life ahead. It is true that the Christians give high value to the spiritual sufferings. But all sufferings have to be viewed through the eyes of Resurrection. Instead of searching for sufferings, we need to seek for the salvific mystery behind the sufferings of our brethren in the light of Resurrection. It’s right to say that Christ died for our sins. At the same time, his death was also the result of raising his voice against the social injustice and blind superstitions and religious orthodoxies. But God didn’t leave him to death but raised him up on the third day to life, eternal.

Resurrection has to be the foundation of faith for every Christian. Let anyone despise us. Let any sorrows, infirmities and debts choke us. Let any avarice subdue us. Still Christ waits for us in the shores of life with breakfast prepared for us. We take pride in him. His all-encompassing presence in our lives will never drive us to despair. Once we give our self totally to his control, we will witness him as the Lord of miracles in the moments of crisis and tribulations. He remains as the sign of hope in our lives. The church has been built on this rock of Resurrection. Therefore God invites us to find answers to our vexing sufferings and falls in the light of the Resurrection of Christ. Let my Christian life be an attempt to recognize the presence of the Risen Lord in my life, in my prayers and in my relations.

We, Christians have been making a pilgrimage through the mysteries of Christ viz, His birth, public life, passion, death and Resurrection since last December. In this course, a question naturally erupts in our minds as to which of these mysteries is the most prominent for Catholics. The theologians have been trying to find an answer in different ways down the centuries. Some say that the incarnation is more important as it revealed the “Emmanuel” – God with us. But for some others, it is the public life of Jesus because His words and deeds are of greater concern for us. Still some others find His passion as more foundational. Thus the answers vary from one to the other. In fact, none of these are wrong as each position depends on various individual experiences. As we pass through the memories of his Passion and arrive at the thoughts on Resurrection, let me focus more on the aspect on Resurrection here.

More than as an institutionalized religion, Christianity stands as a movement with a definite vision as envisaged by Christ. Our concern here is to find out what is essential and inevitable in this movement. His radically different thoughts like the Sermon on the Mount emphasizing on the concern for neighbours and the good works he had done to others with his divine power and his selection of twelve apostles to continue his mission are indeed fundamentals for the Church. His absolute commitment to the Father and His people finally led him to Calvary. His unexpected demise had really shattered the poor disciples. They walked away desperately to their own respective chores. To put in other words, the Christian community was on the verge of decline. But this dying movement experienced a resurrection when it witnessed the Risen Lord. The disciples retuned with all strength and vigour. We no longer see the apostles who are timid and shattered but the apostles who are powerful in spirit and united in vision. They declared, “God raised him, who you crucified and freed him from death;” they became bold and courageous to sacrifice even their lives for the sake of Christ, proclaiming He continues to live with them. St Paul who encountered the Risen Christ became the most zealous missionary and theologian.

The experience of the Risen Lord shouldn’t be merely the philosophy of our faith, rather it should be the driving conviction that should push our life ahead. It is true that the Christians give high value to the spiritual sufferings. But all sufferings have to be viewed through the eyes of Resurrection. Instead of searching for sufferings, we need to seek for the salvific mystery behind the sufferings of our brethren in the light of Resurrection. It’s right to say that Christ died for our sins. At the same time, his death was also the result of raising his voice against the social injustice and blind superstitions and religious orthodoxies. But God didn’t leave him to death but raised him up on the third day to life, eternal.

Resurrection has to be the foundation of faith for every Christian. Let anyone despise us. Let any sorrows, infirmities and debts choke us. Let any avarice subdue us. Still Christ waits for us in the shores of life with breakfast prepared for us. We take pride in him. His all-encompassing presence in our lives will never drive us to despair. Once we give our self totally to his control, we will witness him as the Lord of miracles in the moments of crisis and tribulations. He remains as the sign of hope in our lives. The church has been built on this rock of Resurrection. Therefore God invites us to find answers to our vexing sufferings and falls in the light of the Resurrection of Christ. Let my Christian life be an attempt to recognize the presence of the Risen Lord in my life, in my prayers and in my relations.

Dn. Ebin Orathel CST