The farther we get away from the Crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ, the more people are losing understanding of this miraculous event. It was so huge in its day that the entire world calendar was set around the life of Christ. The entire world historical frame of reference revolves around the events that occurred before Christ’s coming and after His death. Why?
In the twenty-first century, many Catholics have lost understanding about this event. With the cultural advent of Easter eggs from a bunny, the secularization of the greatest Christian feast is drifting from the forefront of our faith and losing significance in the lives of many believers. Why?
The first and easy answer is the reality of spiritual warfare that continues to rage but can’t be readily seen because the devil seeks to keep it hidden. He is using a plethora of different techniques to keep our eyes off the truth of God’s existence and merciful work in the world.
Despite the Church’s existence and proclamation of what Christ has done to save and redeem the world, we are in a period of history where the Church, for many obvious reasons, has lost significance in the eyes of many. Satan and evil are no longer believed in, even though the fruit of that belief is evident in the hatred and political strife of the current days.
Another critical reason why the Resurrection of Jesus doesn’t play as important a role in the lives of people today is because of our worldly training (from Satan). We, in the Western culture, have simply been reduced to consumers. One major area of consumption is that of information. Let’s see how that is applied to the truths of Christ.
What does it mean?
Most people still understand that Easter is a Christian holiday. Yet within the churches, people come and hear the stories told but never stop to examine the meaning of them. In preaching missions, I seek to awaken my audience to this reality. I ask them if they truly believe in the events of our Creed professed each Sunday. They all respond with “I Do”!
I then challenge them with the question: “Then how does it change your life? You say you believe but you live your lives just like the world does. You drive the same cars. You wear the same clothes. You live in the same houses, watch the same TV shows… You worry about money the same as everyone else. You sin just like the rest of the world.”
The power of the Word of God is in its application!! What does it mean that Jesus rose from the dead? It is not enough to know and understand the story. We must take this amazing truth and apply it to HOW WE LIVE OUR LIVES.
The world sees us profess to believe it with our lips, but our lives scream that we don’t.
How we live our lives will either proclaim the truth of this miracle or diminish the influence and impact on those around us – particularly our children.
As Catholics, we have fifty days to celebrate Easter. Will we? Will we radically entrust our lives to Christ because we “Be-living” that he is capable because he ROSE FROM THE DEAD? Will others be able to see it?
Dear Ralph, your powerful questions in this post stopped me in my tracks, my well worn patterns of going about daily life and prompted me to reflect on how am I living out my Catholic Christian beliefs. Sadly, not always perhaps even often enough. Matthew Kelly focused on creating “Holy Moments” this Lent and I took on this challenge. Your post has provided me with insights into where I can create more Holy Moments as outward signs of living my faith.
Wow, Praise Be to God!!!!