Easter changes things. Easter changes everything.
If the Resurrection never happened, then we would still be cowering in fear, prisoners of the fear of permanent death and subject to the baseless whims of superstition.
Easter is a choice. It is a decision we make. You can choose to embrace the promise of your Baptism. Or, you can choose the path that leads nowhere, back to paganism and Godlessness and superstition.
When we begin to know and understand our Easter Hope, Death has no more hold over us. Of course we are afraid of suffering and the moment of physical death. That is very human.
We are Easter People. With the Hope of our Resurrection always in our hearts and minds, we are freed from the old fear of death, and filled with a new expectation for our future. We begin to be concerned that our loved ones will share our Hope and our future, and that we not put our future at risk by living our lives in selfish, dangerous, destructive ways that separate us from God’s love. Easter changes everything.
We do face challenges. In the first reading, we read that Paul and Barnabas
… strengthened the spirits of the disciples
and exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying,
“It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships
to enter the kingdom of God.”
We will live with God in heaven. We read in the Book of Revelation,
“Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race.
He will dwell with them and they will be his people
and God himself will always be with them as their God.
God will console and comfort us.
He will wipe every tear from their eyes,
and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain,
for the old order has passed away.”
This is our Easter Hope.
But we must honestly, bravely challenge ourselves, our beliefs and our behaviors. Here on earth we must turn our backs on selfish pursuits and learn how to love. This is not simply a suggestion, but a commandment.
I give you a new commandment: love one another.
As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.
This is how all will know that you are my disciples,
if you have love for one another.”
Everyone here knows this will be difficult. The apostles warned us, as we heard,
“It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships
to enter the kingdom of God.”
These hardships will largely consist of virtuous changes in our own lives. We will have to love ourselves less in order to have more love for one another. We call this sacrifice. We may have to let go of many of our favorite things if we are to serve others. Love becomes the new yardstick with which we must measure our preparation for the journey to heaven. Love is the place Jesus is asking us to go, so that we can live with Him. If we are disciples of Jesus, it is not simply because of our knowledge, but because of our love and concern for one another. I would urge you to read the lives of the Saints. Love one another. This is how we will know are Easter people.