Paul faced "death every day" (1 Cor 15:31). He was on "death-row" on more than one occasion. Paul faced death and smiled at it. He even taunted death when he proclaimed: "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" (1 Cor 15:55) Paul said: "Dying is so much gain" (Phil 1:21). He said that he felt as strongly attracted to dying as living (Phil 1:23), although he considered dying "the far better thing" (Phil 1:23).

Paul was freed from slavery to the fear of death (see Heb 2:15) because to him, life meant Christ (Phil 1:21). When we totally give our lives to Christ, we believe that Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life (Jn 11:25), Who has put death to death by His death on the cross (see Heb 2:14). When we give our lives to Jesus, we give our deaths to Jesus, Who holds "the keys of death and the nether world" (Rv 1:18). In Christ, there is no condemnation (Rm 8:1). In Christ, slavery to the fear of death is swallowed up in victory (1 Cor 15:54).

On this and every Sunday, we celebrate Jesus' resurrection from the dead. Today, give all to Jesus, smile in the face of death, and live life freely and to the full (see Jn 10:10).

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, February 22, 1999

Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 24, 1999