the last word in faith
"Do you believe?" —John 11:26
In two weeks, everyone in the world who goes to Mass on Easter will be challenged to reject Satan, all his works, and all his empty promises. We reject Satan because we believe in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit guides us to all truth (Jn 16:13), including faith in "the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting." The last word in the great renewal of the baptismal promises is "the resurrection of the body and life everlasting."
In two weeks, Jesus is going to say to us as He said to Martha: "I am the Resurrection and the Life" (Jn 11:25). He will ask us: "Do you believe this?" (Jn 11:26) By God's grace, we will be able to answer: "Yes, Lord...I have come to believe that You are the Messiah, the Son of God" (Jn 11:27). If we believe Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God, we believe He is the Resurrection and the Life, Who will open our graves (Ez 37:12), raise our bodies from the dead, and give us life everlasting.
Fix your eyes on the risen Son (see Heb 12:2). See Jesus, Who raised Lazarus from the dead, dying on the cross, and rising from the dead. Jesus will give us the faith to believe in Him, renew our baptismal promises, and thereby rise from the dead to life everlasting.
Prayer: Father, whatever it takes, increase my faith greatly in the next two weeks.
Promise: "If the Spirit of Him Who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, then He Who raised Christ from the dead will bring your mortal bodies to life also, through His Spirit dwelling in you." —Rm 8:11
Praise: Praise You Jesus, the crucified Resurrection and the Life! You are "the Author of Life" (Acts 3:15). "All life, all holiness comes from You."
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, August 18, 2001
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, August 25, 2001