The actual word, Easter, is taken from Eastre, a pre-Christian festival that heralded the coming of spring. This old, spring festival provided the ideal symbolism for the new life of Christ that burst forth onto our planet at the Resurrection. It was natural for the early Christians to build on nature, rather than destroy it, and to celebrate the new feast of Christ’s Resurrection during this age-old spring festival. Easter is a moveable feast and it falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox. Thus it is celebrated this year on April 4.

Easter is about new life for we celebrate, not only the Resurrection of Jesus, but the Resurrection of all who believe in Him. Let me explain:

First of all, Easter is about the Resurrection of Jesus and the joyful outcome of his mission to save mankind. All the death-dealing forces of the world and of evil could not overcome His spirit for he is risen from the dead. He is alive! He has conquered sin on the cross, and he has opened wide the way to salvation to all who follow Him. Nothing has ever been the same after Christ’s Resurrection.

Secondly, Easter is also about our resurrection too. People find it easier, I submit, to accept Christ’s Resurrection rather than their own personal resurrection in Christ which demands personal effort and sacrifice. Your personal resurrection from a life of mediocrity was made possible at Easter. It was made possible for Peter too, who had turned away from Jesus, but was rehabilitated after Christ’s Resurrection. It was made possible for Thomas also, who doubted Jesus, but became a passionate believer in Him after Christ’s Resurrection. It was made possible for millions of people who have taken the Risen Christ at his word to “love one another the way I have loved you” ( John 13 : 34 ).

People, all over the world, have had their lives turned around as a result of Christ’s Resurrection. The theological truth is that we have been raised up from a kind of death because Jesus has freed us from death to sin. Death to sin is as bad, if not worse, than death of the body because it is a spiritual death, and spiritual death is enslavement to uncontrolled passions, to entrapment in a world of evil, prejudice, malice, viciousness and selfishness. We have been set free of those chains by Jesus who liberated us.

What a reason for giving thanks to God for such a blessed gift on this wonderful day!

The New life of the Resurrection is the good news that Jesus preached while he walked the earth. Accept the gospel and you will find your bliss! The world we live in and the people we live with are not bad, but the world and the people in it can lead us astray if they are not redeemed by grace.

That is the good news of the resurrection.

The Easter message shows what can happen when people commit themselves to the good news of the Resurrection. God can raise us up if we turn away from sin and work with his grace. He can raise us up right now, give us new life, help us to fight corruption, make us whole again and fill us with joy.

Easter is all about joy, that our joy may be full ( John 15 : 11 ).

We can find joy in the simplest of things such as being able to rise in the morning to a brand new day. Reaching out gladly to someone in need. Visiting or calling a friend on the phone. Enjoying the blessing of good company, especially over a meal. Being grateful for your good friends who are tried and true. Feeling renewed when God’s grace is at work in your family, in your community, with whomever you meet and wherever you go. For God is everywhere, and renews everything, if we only respond to the grace of the present moment.

Break forth in freedom and joy this Easter for Jesus, our Savior, has risen this day. Alleluia!

—Fr. Hugh Duffy