After having spent the last couple of days focusing on the Cross in these posts, St. Paul moves our attention in this day’s first reading to the Resurrection (1 Cor 15:12-20).  Countering some Corinthians’ view that there is no resurrection from the dead, the Apostle to the Gentiles puts the matter starkly, as we see in the headline.

The passion, death, and resurrection of Christ are a strict unity that had to occur for our redemption. Jesus Himself said so in predicting His own demise and rise (notice my emphasis):

[Jesus] began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days. (Mk 8:31; see also Mt 16:21 and Lk 9:22)

So reject the modern “scholars” who would have you believe that the “historical Jesus” never rose from the dead or that it doesn’t matter one way or the other if he did or did not (e.g., the classic line: “even if they find the bones of Jesus it would not affect my faith”)..  Flee from such talk — waste no time on it.  A “savior” who does not keep his word is either a liar or a madman.  Jesus is neither.  And the Risen Jesus is worthy of our faith.

All aspects of the life of our Lord are worthy of meditation and contemplation, but none more so than the time from the Last Supper until Easter morning (try the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary and the first two Glorious Mysteries).  Let us renew our desire to thank God for so loving a Savior.  May we one day rise in glory to be with Him for all eternity.