risen life in jesus
"Since you have been raised up in company with Christ, set your heart on what pertains to higher realms where Christ is seated at God's right hand. Be intent on things above rather than on things of earth." —Colossians 3:1-2
Alleluia! Jesus is risen! His tomb is empty! "Death has no more power over Him" (Rm 6:9). Alleluia!
Because we've been baptized into Christ, we have died with Him (Rm 6:4). "If we have been united with Him through likeness to His death, so shall we be through a like resurrection" (Rm 6:5). This very day we have already "been raised up" with Jesus to share in His glorious, heavenly, risen life (Col 3:1).
For many in the United States, the joy of Easter means returning to the things we gave up for Lent. It's back to chocolate, sweets, soft drinks, ice cream, etc. Yes, we do have to "celebrate and rejoice" on Easter (Lk 15:32), and these treats help us to celebrate, but if we find our joy simply in returning to the old life we lived before Lent, we will have missed Easter.
Jesus is the Reason for the season! He is risen! We are invited to a risen life with Him that is so new, powerful, and exciting that we can't sufficiently celebrate it with the "old yeast," that is, our old joys and lifestyle (1 Cor 5:7). Let us "be intent on things above rather than on things of earth" (Col 3:2). Let's celebrate the fifty-day Easter season by immersing ourselves in God's Word, which is sweeter than the tastiest candy (Ps 119:103), and in the Eucharist, the "bread of sincerity and truth" (1 Cor 5:8).
Prayer: Father, give me new, risen ways to celebrate "this new life" (Acts 5:20). Praise and glory to You, risen Jesus!
Promise: "He saw and believed." —Jn 20:8
Praise: "This is the day the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it" (Ps 118:24). Jesus is risen! Alleluia!
Reference: (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, October 21, 2014
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