Persistence of life

The main message of the Easter season is that in Christ death does not have the last word. As we say in our funeral liturgy, life is changed, not ended. It’s hard to see that when we are grieving. It takes a time of healing to come to that appreciation.

Our faith and all creation are giving us the same message: life persists. We see it in the annual rebirth of nature in the spring. We see it in the resiliency and determination of St. Paul and the early Church disciples, as well as in people of faith throughout the ages, persisting through persecutions.

We see it in people who face great personal challenges with courage–refugees, those suffering from political retribution, people living in war zones, those fighting debilitating illnesses, those suffering tremendous loss, etc. We see it in people who keep going forward in hopes for a better future.

We see it in our own life, when we respond to challenges in a life-giving way. Through eyes of faith we see the message of Easter all around us: Death does not have the final word. Life will prevail. Christ is risen.

“Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)