Easter invites us to participate in the greatest moment of history: the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. But it is more than a past event. It is the assurance of new life for everyone. 

Most of us know the story. On the third day after His crucifixion, Jesus rose from the dead, conquering the grave. This wasn’t simply a display of divine power; it was a promise. Through His resurrection, He makes it possible for each of us to rise—to awaken, to begin again, to live anew.

The Resurrection carries a dual resonance:

It stirs our wonder at the miracle of Jesus walking forth from the tomb in defiance of death.

It beckons each of us, personally, to rise from the shadows of death that weigh us down to experience new life.

It is both cosmic and close, it is history and heart.

How fitting that all this unfolds in spring, when creation itself awakens from winter’s sleep! Buds bloom, birds sing, the earth shakes off its cold slumber. In this seasonal rebirth, we catch a glimpse of what Christ’s resurrection offers to our souls: a renewal beyond despair, a dawn beyond night.

Who among us hasn’t felt trapped—by a stagnant job, a faltering relationship, or a heavy weariness with life? These moments are tombs of a kind that imprison us spiritually. But Easter comes and proclaims: You do not have to stay there. Christ has risen, and you can rise too.

The early Christians knew this power of Easter intimately. Peter, who denied Jesus three times, found forgiveness and became a fearless follower. Thomas, who doubted, touched the wounds of the Risen One and found hope again. Paul, a former persecutor, became an Apostle of freedom after encountering the risen Christ. These men were not just idle witnesses—their lives were completely transformed by Christ’s Resurrection. 

Let me share a little story. A young boy once paused at a store window, smiling at a crucifix on display. A passerby, noticing the boy’s expression, asked, “Why are you smiling? That looks like a sad image.” The child spoke, “Oh no, Mister, Jesus didn’t stay dead on the cross—He came back to life! That’s why I can smile.”

What a beautiful truth, spoken with the innocence of a child: the cross isn’t the end, but a means. Because of Easter, sorrow can give way to joy, darkness to light, death to life.

Even a child can grasp this wonder. And so should we. For in every challenge we face, Easter declares: I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Let us then embrace the Resurrection—not just on Easter morning, but every day, right now. It is not just a past event, but a present, pulsing reality for everyone willing to accept it. Ask for this new life, and you shall receive it.

—Fr. Hugh Duffy, Ph.D.