"DO NOT BE AFRAID"
"Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of
things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1).
During this entire
week, the Church continues to celebrate the great feast of Easter. We do not
celebrate simply a moment in history, but rather, the meaning of all History!
The celebration continues during these days of Resurrection, and should make us
think back to the days of Creation. God, in creating us, gave us the gift of
freedom. Freedom involves the risk of abuse, but God preferred a free service
of love instead of one that would be imposed. Sin is the result of an abuse of
our freedom.
At the moment that
God created us free, He also decreed an antidote for sin, the sending of His
Own Son. This Son, by His death and Resurrection, would destroy that death
which was our penalty for sin, and by His rising He would restore us to eternal
life, which had been forfeited by sin. In other words, the death and the
Resurrection of Jesus are the central events of all of history!
On the morning of
the Resurrection, Jesus greeted the women: "Peace," He said. Then He
continued, "Do not be afraid" (Mt 28:10)! This is the great Easter
message from the Risen Savior. We no longer need to be afraid as we journey
through life. We can have peace in our hearts because we believe that Jesus has
overcome the great obstacle of death. In faith, we cry out in the Memorial
Acclamation: "We proclaim Your Death, O Lord, and profess Your
Resurrection until You come again."
I couldn't help but
ask myself, "What is the basis of my faith in the Resurrection?" The
Scriptures tell us that "faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the
conviction of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). Faith is entirely a gift
from God. Faith is certain because it is based on the very Word of God, Who
cannot lie. Faith also seeks to understand; this is why God enlightens the
"eyes of our hearts" (Eph 1:18) that we may know what is the hope to
which He has called us.
Wherever we go,
whatever we do, no matter how rich or how poor we may be, one day each of us
must face that dark, awesome moment of our death. But, as people of faith, we
approach that moment with the realization that Jesus has gone before us in
death only to rise triumphant in glory! Just as we follow Him in His death, so
will we follow Him in His Resurrection. In the Responsorial Psalm, we proclaim,
"Keep me safe, O God; You are my hope (Ps 16:1).