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[caption id="attachment_170921" align="aligncenter" width="800"]"Witness the Resurrection" by Elizabeth Reardon (CatholicMom.com) Image: By Radu Florin (2019), Pexels.com, CC0/PD[/caption]

Jesus met [the women] on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” (Matthew 28: 9b-10)

There is a moment at the Easter Vigil where the whole atmosphere seems to be transformed from tranquil, dim, and somber to one of joyful euphonious illumination. It was here that this Scripture found me and resonated the joy present for these women. The austere mournful mystery of the tomb revealed not as defeat but as Christ's victory over death, and we as witnesses to that certainty. And in an instant, with feet set on the path and my heart filled joy I yearn to share the Good News to everyone I encounter. "For we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” As Archbishop Fulton Sheen would say, our testimony is but "to tell people about the life and death of Christ. Every other approach is a waste."

And yet ... why don't we?

With dishes done and our family dissipated, we can so easily let our Easter promises rest at the close of the day. Yet, the fact should not escape us, as Catholics, that Easter comprises a entire season: a period of 50 days beginning with Easter and concluding with Pentecost, the birthday of the Church. We are then sent forth to the ends of the earth to continue our witness to others of the presence of Jesus Christ in our lives today.

For "modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses." (St. Paul VI)

And what about when we experience opposition from others to our witness?

Should that be a reason for our idleness or should we through prayer and perseverance continue to run the race? St. Maximilian Kolbe knew where the real battle lay, and what was found in Christ that no one could take away or refute.

No one in the world can change Truth. What we can do and should do is to seek truth and to serve it when we have found it. The real conflict is the inner conflict. Beyond armies of occupation and the hecatombs of extermination camps, there are two irreconcilable enemies in the depth of every soul: good and evil, sin and love. And what use are the victories on the battlefield if we ourselves are defeated in our innermost personal selves? (St. Maximilian Kolbe)

So as each of us goes forward this Easter season we must as the disciples did, search our hearts and allow the presence of the risen Christ to comfort and strengthen us for reception of the Holy Spirit.

[tweet "As we go forward this Easter season we must as the disciples did, search our hearts and allow the presence of the risen Christ to comfort and strengthen us for reception of the Holy Spirit. By @theologyisaverb"]

Pray:

Lord, we are overwhelmed at the depth of your love and mercy for us- all the way to the cross. We stand amazed as we gaze at the empty tomb and wonder what you would have us do in the days ahead.  Yet, you have not left us alone. Your victory you share with us as well as your cross. Please let our joyful encounter be our sincere prayer and sacrifice as we seek to witness the truth of your glorious resurrection. Amen.