The Resurrection of the Lord
April 17, 2022
“Brothers and sisters: Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus, were baptized into his death? We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life. For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his, we shall be united with him in the resurrection....Consequently, you too must think of yourselves as being dead to sin and living for God in Christ Jesus.”
We are blessed with countless scripture readings, joyfully reminding us of Jesus' resurrection, which is a foretaste of our own, one day with Him. Every time we celebrate baptisms in the church, the newly baptized dies and rises, in Paul's words, to ‘a newness of life.’ Baptism is not an event, but an encounter with the Risen Christ.
On this, the greatest feast day of the church, may I recognize that I have been called to a new life, and my heart burns with excitement, as the scriptures tell me of the ongoing significance of this day. He speaks to us in His word, and we discover Him present ‘in the breaking of the bread.’
by Rev. William J. Reilly