“ He is Risen” – each Easter growing up began with these words, which were as much of a proclamation, as a greeting to anyone we met. Looking back I can now better appreciate why it was that these words were spoken so boldly and with such conviction by those in my family, and those I encountered at Church that day. You see, if Jesus did not rise from the dead, then as Saint Paul said in his letter to the people of Corinth, we are truly the most pitiable of people. Without the resurrection of Jesus, we would have no reason for hope.

Yet we do have that hope, because in fact, Jesus did indeed rise from the dead that first Easter Sunday, and He appeared over time to the Apostles, and many others. This is not a leap of faith; it is well documented fact. You see in those days, in particular in the Jewish culture, there was a sacredness of what was committed to the written word, and moreover to the oral tradition of passing along knowledge of events. Great trust was placed in these things, and that is especially true when corroborated by many witnesses. Our Lord appeared first to those he knew and who followed him, then to others (including 500 people who Saint Paul basically told the people of Corinth to go talk to, if for some reason they did not believe him). These were not isolated events at all.

Our Lord and his prophets told us that He would rise after three days, and so gave hope to His people, a hope that we should have every confidence in sharing in. I find that as I get older, and I accumulate and digest His message, and that of those who foretold His coming, I can see how perfectly this message of hope was disseminated over time and with such unwavering consistency that it leaves someone as hopelessly analytical as myself (there are times I can really relate to Saint Thomas) with a message so strong that I cannot see the position of doubting to be very credible.

As we celebrate today, I hope that each of us can take the time to ponder with love and trust Jesus words, and to focus with gratitude on His promise kept and the assurance and hope that it brings each of us. God Bless you all – He is Risen!