To give our lives to the risen Christ, we need the Holy Spirit, for "no one can say: 'Jesus is Lord,' except in the Holy Spirit" (1 Cor 12:3). To live in the Spirit, we must repent and live our Baptism (Acts 2:38). To repent and live our new baptized life, we are repeatedly urged: "Save yourselves from this generation which has gone astray" (Acts 2:40). Thus, we must get out of the lifestyle of the world before we meet the risen Christ in new and life-changing ways. The key to resurrection life is lifestyle.

Mary Magdalene was the first person to meet the risen Christ (Jn 20:16). She had undergone a major lifestyle transformation from being demon-possessed to being Jesus' disciple (Lk 8:2). Jewish Christians dramatically changed their lifestyles by sharing communion with Gentile Christians, with whom Jews previously had as little contact as possible. Gentile Christians altered their lifestyles to "abstain from anything contaminated by idols, from illicit sexual union, from the meat of strangled animals, and from eating blood" (Acts 15:20). All Christians "crucified their flesh with its passions and desires" (Gal 5:24) and rejected "the futile way of life" handed on to them (1 Pt 1:18). Those witnessing for the risen Christ "devoted themselves to the apostles' instruction and the communal life, to the breaking of bread and the prayers" (Acts 2:42).

Give your lifestyle to the risen Christ, then get to know Jesus, "the Resurrection and the Life" (Jn 11:25), and be His witness.

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Giles H. Pater, November 15, 2001

Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, November 16, 2001