THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST

A Real Event
Christs Resurrection is both historical and trans-
historical. It is historical in terms of the testimony of
witnesses to the Risen Christ, the empty tomb, etc.
But it surpasses and transcends history in that no
one claimed to see the event, no one described how
it took place, no one can explain what risen,
glorified existence is essentially. Therefore, the
passage to such a new state of life is necessarily a
reality discerned through the eyes of Faith, not by
the senses (cf. CCC 639,647).
Necessity of the Resurrection
St. Paul clearly affirmed the singular importance of
the Resurrection in declaring: If Christ was not
raised, your faith is worthless (1 Cor 15:17). This
means that if Christ is not risen, Paul and all
Christians would then be exposed as false
witnesses of God, for we have borne witness before
Him. that He raised up Christ (1 Cor 15:15). In
brief, if Christ be not risen, we are all idolaters! But
the truth is: Christ IS risen, and his resurrection has
revolutionized both the very notionand image of God,
and the ultimate meaning and goal of our very own
lives.
The Problem
the once-and-for-all event of Christ rising from the
dead and appearing to his disciples is different. It is
not something familiar to our ordinary experience.
So a special effort is needed by us Filipino Catholics
of today if we are to become more aware of the full
truth and reality of Christs Resurrection. For this is
the unique key to deeper personal understanding of
the living Christ, and of our authentic living out the
Catholic Faith. (CFC)
Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy
teaches, By baptism all are plunged into the
paschal mystery of Christ: they die with him,
are buried with him, and rise with him; they
receive the spirit of adoption as children in
which we cry: Abba, Father, and thus
become true adorers whom the Father
seeks.... From that time (of Jesus) onward
the Church has never failed to come together
to celebrate the paschal mystery.
Confirmation wrought by the
Resurrection
His Resurrection confirmed everything Christ had
done and taught. It fulfilled both Jesus triple
prediction of his Passion, Death and Resurrection in
the Gospels. through his Resurrection, Christ also
fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies promising a
Savior for all the world (cf. Ps 110; Dn 7:13). The
history of Gods Self-revelation, begun with Abraham
and continuing through Moses, the Exodus, and the
whole Old Testament, reached its climax in Christs
Resurrection, something unprecedented, totally new.
From Witnessing to Proclamation
The Risen Christ commissioned his disciples: You are to teach
them to carry out everything I have commanded you (Mt
28:20). Jesus and the Father abide in anyone who is true to
my word. . . . We will come to him and make our dwelling place
with him (Jn 14:23). This abiding presence is effected through
the Holy Spirit who will instruct you in everything, and remind
you of all that I told you (Jn 14:26). For the Spirit bears
witness to the Risen Christ (cf. Jn 15:26). He will guide you to
all truth. . . announce to you the things that are to come. In
doing this he will give glory to me because he will have
received from me what he will announce to you (Jn16:13-14)
Lumen Gentium
Christ, freeing us from death by his own
death, in rising to life has already won that
victory. Because of the death and
resurrection of Jesus, sin and death and the
tragedies of our human experience can
never be victorious. Rather life and light will
win out in the end.
The Resurrection confirmed Jesus
Divinity

St. Paul preached that Jesus was
designated Son of God in power according
to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection
from the dead(Rom 1:4; cf. Phil 2:7-8). Upon
seeing the Risen Jesus, Thomas cried out,
My Lord and my God! (Jn 20:28).
Christs death freed us from sin, and his
Resurrection brought us a share in the new
life of adopted sons/daughters of the Father
in the Holy Spirit. If then we have died with
Christ [freed from sin], we believe that we
shall also live with him (Rom 6:8). CFC 624
This importance of the Resurrection is often missed.
Many Filipino Catholics today seem to feel uneasy if
asked to explain the meaning and implications of
Christs Resurrection. This may indicate that, many
merely accept the fact that Christ has risen from the
dead. But they have no idea of what this means nor do
they know how to live out its implication in their lives.
No one has helped them see how Jesus Resurrection
can be the basic principle and animating force for a
truly Christian way of life. We are saved only if we not
only confess with our lips that Jesus is Lord but also
believe in our hearts that God raised him from the
dead (Rom 10:9). CFC 626
The importance of the Resurrection also calls
for the clarification of some common
misleading conceptions. Some Christians
treat the Resurrection simply as a factual
proof of the Gospel message, with no
particular meaning in itself. But in the New
Testament, Jesus Resurrection is not only
a proof of the Gospel message __ it IS also
the message! CFC 627
The Paschal Mystery
The paschal mystery means that there can
be no light without darkness, no resurrection
without the cross. This is why Jesus tells us
that we must take up crosses daily if we we
want to be his disciples, but at the same time
he offers us the assurance that his yoke is
easy and his burden light
The Work of the Trinity in the
Resurrection
As effected by the Trinity, the Resurrection
represents the definitive intervention of the
Triune God into creation and our human
history. As in all out-going divine acts, the
Resurrection is effected by all three divine
Persons working together, but each
according to the distinctiveness proper to
each (cf. CCC 648-50)
The Work of the Trinity in the
Resurrection
Thus, like the source of Jesus divine sonship and
mission is the Father, so too the divine power raising
Jesus from the dead has its source in the Father (cf.
Acts 2:24). Also, like Jesus very conception in the
Virgin Mary, the divine power re-vivifying and
glorifying the dead Jesus, body and soul, is the Holy
Spirit. And as sharing equally together with Father
and Spirit the one divine power, the Eternal Son
works his own humanitys resurrection as Jesus
promised. I have the power to lay down my life, and
to take it up again (Jn 10:18).

The Hope of our future Resurrection
the Risen Christ is the principle and source of our
future resurrection. This means Jesus rose not only
to a glorious higher state of life himself, but also to
become the source of this new life for all. He will
change our lowly body to conform with his glorified
body by the power that enables him also to bring all
things into subjection to himself (Phil 3:21). In
Christ all will come to life again (1 Cor 15:22; cf.
CCC 651-55). CFC