Live Greater Jesus Is Alive….

Apr 8, 2008

I turned 23 today. Praise God for another year to be alive, to love, be loved, and to rejoice in all the gifts he has given me in my life. Also praise God for the life and love of my parents and also for the life of my triplet brother Scott and triplet sister Katie whom I share my birthday with and whom I love dearly.

Today was a great day. There was a particular moment when I talked to my brother Scott who is now Brother Innocent Mariae, a member of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. In my brief conversation with him, I asked how he is experiencing Easter, and his response touched my heart and gave me great inspiration and joy. He said, “Russ, Jesus is alive, and nothing else matters.” Those words spoke to me and provided a new and beautiful context to the Easter season. Thanks brother!

 JESUS IS ALIVE.

My friends we do not celebrate the resurrection of Jesus as if it was an event that happened in the past. While it is a historic event, the mystery of the life, death, and Resurrection of Jesus is that they transcend time and are ever new and present in our lives. Understanding that the Resurrection of Jesus is a timeless event and that it is something we celebrate in the Liturgy and life of the Church is a context of faith that can change our lives. 

Jesus is alive, the tomb is empty, and we, like the disciples must live our lives for a Lord who is not dead and closed in a tomb, but alive, living among us. What are the implications of these different contexts by which one can live?

If we treat the death and Resurrection of Jesus as something that just happened in the past, we nicely and simply honor Jesus for what he did for us. We remember the event, possibly think about it for a while, and move on with our lives. If we are constantly looking into the past, we will be like the disciples on the road Emmaus who were sad and hopeless because their victor and savior had died and what they hoped for was not longer possible.

If we look at the death and Resurrection of Jesus in the present moment as a gift and promise of life, we experience the risen Jesus and a Jesus who is truly alive living among us. This context of faith allows us to suffer with a Jesus who has conquered suffering, jump in jubilation with a Jesus who is the fulfillment of our joy, and live with Jesus who shows us how to live the true Christian life. My friends Jesus is alive…Jesus is alive!

What is the context by which you live your life these days?  Is Jesus in the past or present of your life? Is he a nice picture to hang on your wall or a plaster of Paris statue to look pretty on your bookshelf? Or is Jesus, the Son of God and Savior of us all, someone who is alive in your heart and whose spirit inspires and guides everything that you do? My friends let Jesus who is alive and risen from the dead walk with you this Easter. And as we approach Pentecost, ask Him to truly give you His spirit. A spirit that will guide, comfort, inspire, and give you all that you need to be the person God created you to be.

JESUS IS ALIVE.  Right here and now…

All praise and glory to Him!

God Bless you!

Rusty

Question of the week: What is the context of you faith life? Are you looking to Jesus in the past or present?