Do We Know the Story?
February 19, 2025
Fr. John Riccardo
Brothers and sisters: It is written, The first man, Adam, became a living being, the last Adam a life-giving spirit. But the spiritual was not first; rather the natural and then the spiritual. The first man was from the earth, earthly; the second man, from heaven. As was the earthly one, so also are the earthly, and as is the heavenly one, so also are the heavenly. Just as we have borne the image of the earthly one, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly one
(1 Corinthians 15:45-49).
We’re still working our way through 1 Corinthians 15 in the Second Reading at Mass. This chapter, again, is the longest in the Bible on the reality of Jesus’ resurrection and its consequences. I increasingly wonder if we grasp what Paul is communicating to us. In fact, I think for many years, I didn’t at all.
I think Holy Week in general, and Palm Sunday and Good Friday in particular, are some of the most difficult days to emotionally enter into in the Church year. What are we supposed to be feeling and thinking in those days? Every other day in the Scriptures we read of Jesus healing the sick, driving out demons, manifesting unimaginable power over nature, confounding the religious leaders with His wisdom and more. Then, out of nowhere, something happens, or seems to happen. The one who walks through hostile crowds unharmed, who has power over truly hellish forces, is arrested, chained, spat on, verbally abused, tortured and put to death. What happened to all of that power? Then, suddenly, the sad and somber mood of Palm Sunday and Good Friday are gone, flowers fill the sanctuary, and “Alleluias” fill the air! What’s it all about? Obviously, these are weighty matters that require much more time than we have in a weekly blog, but perhaps we can focus on just one thing given 1 Corinthians 15.
Easter Sunday is the verification that Good Friday, no matter how it seemed at the time, was a victory. What appeared to be Jesus’ demise at the hands of the ruling world power was in fact the defeat of the powers of Sin, Death and the true enemy of the human race - satan and the fallen angels. The bodily resurrection of Jesus from the dead is the declaration that Jesus of Nazareth is the true King of the world, not Caesar or any other ruler, and that in Him God’s good creation, has begun to be recreated.
What does this mean for us? Many, many things, to be sure, but let’s ponder just one this week. “Religion”, as we commonly speak of it, is usually seen as a matter of opinion, taste, and preference. It might be of interest to someone, or it might not. For many, God might be real, but even if He is, He’s removed and distant from this world (just look at the news!), and has played no role in it after having wound it all up like some celestial clock-maker.
Christianity proposes something very, very different. Paul’s proclamation of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead is the announcement that Jesus is not some religious guru offering some interesting tidbits for those who might be interested. Nor is it the announcement that Jesus has risen and one day you and I might ”go to heaven.”
Paul’s proclamation, and the message of the New Testament, is the announcement that Jesus is the true King of the world; that by His death on the cross He has defeated (and one day will destroy) the enemies of the human race; that He has rescued us for the world — not from it; that you and I are now personally being summoned to lovingly and gratefully pledge Him our loyalty and allegiance as our rightful King; and until the day He returns and makes all things new (cf. Rev 21:5), we are to live our lives in such a way as to be both working models of His recreation and active agents in His hands, doing all we can to reconcile, restore and recreate this world that God loves.
ACTS XXIX Prayer Intentions
February 2025
For our annual ACTS XXIX retreat, that it would be a time to simply be with God, allowing Him to fill us up and to grow in every greater intimacy with Him.
For our Board of Directors, our Episcopal Advisory Council, and our faithful partners, may they know the Lord’s great delight in them.
For God’s protection upon Fr. John Riccardo, the ACTS XXIX family and all our families.
