Pray the OUR FATHER (with devotion)

"Simon Peter entered the tomb. He observed the wrappings on the ground and saw the piece of cloth which had covered the head not lying with the wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the disciple who had arrived first at the tomb went in. He saw and believed." (Jn. 20: 6-8)

The Resurrection of Jesus is the CENTRAL MYSTERY of our Catholic faith. Without the resurrection, we would have no religion. St. Paul puts it this way: "If there is no resurrection of the dead, Christ himself has not been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is void of content and your faith is empty too. ...If Christ is not raised, your faith is worthless. You are still in your sins, and those who have fallen asleep in Christ are the deadest of the dead." (1Cor. 15:14-18)

Harsh words, but very much a reality. The fact is, all the modern speculation and ahistorical musings by theologians and moralists about Jesus not having risen from the dead, is outside of our faith experience. Christ is risen! For there were MANY (including all the Apostles, save St. John) who were to DIE to attest to the fact that they saw Him risen from the dead... including the one who wrote the latter quote. St. Paul, deceived in no way, KNEW the risen Lord in a personal way for he met Him on the road to Damascus and was called into service for the Gospel. He was a prime witness, as was St. Peter and the others who paid for their testimony with their blood... they KNEW the TRUTH.

For us, the Resurrection takes faith, faith in those who brought us the message, in our Holy Catholic Church begun by Jesus Christ, and mostly faith in the RESURRECTED ONE!