THE DEAD WILL RISE

"Christ himself carried our sins in his body to the cross, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness. It is by his wounds that you have been healed." (1 Peter 2:24)

The Church has entered into the Holy Week, which is the final week of the preparation for Easter. This is time for personal judgement to evaluate one's level of preparedness to enter into the resurrection of Christ. The real issue, here, is not the commemoration, but the experience, of Easter. 

GOOD NEWS 

The good news is that the dead will rise, and rise with all the good things in their lives. Now let us walk fast and complete the journey with Christ into the tomb in order to come out with him, in the newness of Easter. Follow me - "You will Know the truth and the truth will set you free (John 8 :32).

Beginning on Ash Wednesday the three pillars of the lentern observance - fasting (and abstinence), prayer and sacrifice - are the means given by the Church to profit all believers for death and resurrection with Christ. Through fasting and abstinence we mortify the flesh of its sinful desires, and detach from the excessive love of worldly things. Through prayer and sacrifice we enter into the love of God, by meditating on the Word and by sharing what we have with those who do not have. This detachment from the world and sincere love of neighbors lead us to holiness, reconciliation, and lasting fellowship with God. 

JESUS RAISES LAZARUS FROM DEATH TO LIFE 

CONQUER SIN 

Some believers have overcome their haunting temptations, given up their unholy desires and conquered many sins. These happen as they persist in the lentern practice and meditate on God's Word to repent and come back to God - as it is constantly proclaimed during the lentern season. Many have, so, given up sexual immorality, drugs, alcoholism, envy, jealousy, pride, greed, corruption, hate, vengeance and more. 

There was the offer of Mercy through the mass hearing of Confessions in all parishes of the Church. This was to enable everyone to conciously and voluntarily allow God to take away their burdens of sins and justify them by the merits of Christ's passion and death on the Cross. 

SIX FEET DEEP 

Now whoever, sincerely and faithfully, took part in these observance - with the desire to be reconciled with God through Christ - is already five feet deep into the tomb with Christ. The one foot, which remains to fully unite with Jesus in the Sepulcher, is being accomplished in this Holy Week. But if after this evaluation you find yourself wanting, then make an extra effort to make up the difference. 

Let your faith and love for God transform you, instantly, through the extraordinary graces of the Easter Triduum. For only those who will die on Good Friday will also rise on Easter Sunday. As it is written: "And those who belong to Christ Jesus have put to death their human nature with all its passions and desires. The Spirit has given us life; he must also control our lives." (Galatians 5:24-25)

SIGNS OF VICTORY 

This victory of the believer over the flesh and the world is evidenced by love, humility and obedience. And this is the true character of Christ. Let's examine our hearts to see if we really have these virtues manifesting in our own character. There is no need to pretend - if you do not have:  fast more, pray more, and go to Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. He will give you his character if you sincerely seek him and ask for grace. 

So the scripture says: "The attitude you should have is the one that Christ Jesus had: He always had the nature of God, but he did not think that by force he should try to remain[a] equal with God. Instead of this, of his own free will he gave up all he had, and took the nature of a servant. He became like a human being and appeared in human likeness. He was humble and walked the path of obedience all the way to death - his death on the cross. For this reason God raised him to the highest place above and gave him the name that is greater than any other name." (Philippians 2:5-9).

DONATE TO SUSTAIN AND IMPROVE THIS MISSION 

YOU WILL RISE 

And someone is asking: what are the rewards for dying with Christ? The answer is here: in "dying" with Christ, our sins are forgiven, we overcome temptations, and  live in righteousness with God. Through love we enter the kingdom of God and possess his blessings (Matthew 6:33) There we life in the protection, grace, and providence of God in anticipation for eternal life. Through the vitue of our humility God lifts us to higher heights, promotion and better life. And through obedience to the teachings of God, and to those who have authority over us, we receive the promises of God in their fullness. (Deuteronomy 11:27). 

May your death and resurrection in Christ - by the merits of your baptism and confession, and by the grace of your lentern observance - bring you to live a glorious new life (Colossians 2:12-13) from Easter Sunday, Amen. 

Author: Aying Godman, is a Catechist, Evangelist & Blogger of the Roman Church; Founder of CATHOLIC FRONT MEDIA Email: frontcatholic@gmail.com 

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