Resurrexit Sicut Dixit

For fifty days, the Church enters into a season of joy called Eastertide. From Easter Sunday to Pentecost, we reflect on the central mystery of our faith: Jesus Christ is risen from the dead. The tomb is empty. Sin and death have been defeated. And because of that, everything has changed – not just for Jesus, but for us. Easter reminds us that hope is stronger than doubt, light overcomes darkness, and love has the final word. It tells us that no matter how broken the world might seem, God is still writing the story. And the ending is one of victory and life.

But during the Easter Season, the Church invites us to do more than just remember – we are called to rejoice. We are called to live as people of the resurrection, with hearts full of hope and lives marked by joy. Sometimes, though, that’s easier said than done.

Life doesn’t always feel victorious. The challenges we faced before Easter Sunday are still with us afterward. But this is exactly why Easter is more than one day. We need time to let the truth of the resurrection sink in. We need time to let God meet us in our doubts, our worries, and our weariness – just like Jesus met his disciples in theirs.

Throughout this season, we reflect on the scripture accounts of the risen Jesus appearing to his followers: comforting their fears, restoring their hope, and sending them to share the good news of the resurrection. These stories show us that Jesus doesn’t just rise and disappear – he sticks around. He walks with us. He meets us where we are, even behind locked doors. And he gently calls us forward into new life.

So, how can we live the Easter Season well?

● Stay in Scriptures/ Celebrate the Eucharist
Spend time with the Gospel accounts of the resurrection, as they are found in all four Gospels. Let the words come alive. Imagine yourself in the story. And determine that your time at Mass this season will include full and active participation in the celebration of the Sacrament.
● Renew Your Faith
On Easter Sunday, we renew our Baptismal promises. Why not be deliberate about that renewal and those promises? If you’ve fallen out of rhythm with daily prayer, now is the time to form new habits. Are you an active member of a specific local parish church community? Get active, get involved.
● Celebrate With Joy
Make time for beauty, music, family and friends. Take time for rest and refreshment, take a hike, visit a museum. Let the joy of Easter be reflected in your daily attitude toward those around you.

This season reminds us that our faith is not based on wishful thinking, but on a living Savior. Jesus didn’t just rise from the dead – he is still rising: in our hearts, in our communities, in our world. He is rising, just as he said. Let’s be a part of it.