The beauty of this event is a plain and simple fact our Lord Jesus did truly rise from the dead. This event set him apart from the prophets and holy men of the past and future. And as the angels told the crowd standing by in the book of Acts 1:10-11 this same Jesus who you see ascending to heaven will come back again. The birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus has always been surrounded by the miraculous. Many who deny his existence or power often focus on trying to disprove this event of the resurrection. This is the event that makes the other religions pale in effectiveness and in reliability. Most of the religions spend their time trying to develop or duplicate ways to reach their particular god. On the other hand Jesus came to us and died for us and rose again and promised to return. Jesus came down to earth to lift man up to where he was. The vehicle Jesus used to lift man to himself was the cross and the resurrection. If Jesus had remained on the cross He would have merely been a man but as we know He was more than a man He was God and death could not hold the creator in the grave. Without this single act of resurrection there is no redemption, forgiveness, salvation, good news, or hope. This is where many of the religions fall short for they have no concept of these teachings as a reality. St. Paul gives a clear evaluation of the importance of this resurrection event. "If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain." (1Cor. 15:14)
Jesus sealed his teaching and his validity as our Lord and savior in His resurrection and truly proved He was God and had the power to forgive. One of the statements Jesus made was that He could forgive men of their sins. This statement made the leaders of Judaism call Him a blasphemer because only God could forgive man of their sins. The resurrection would solidify for all eternity that this Jesus was truly the Son of God as He said He was. The first part of the Lords mission in paving the way for man's forgiveness was the cross the second part was the resurrection. Neither could have accomplished forgiveness in itself but the death and resurrection together completed the reality of our forgiveness. Jesus did not need to rise from the dead to forgive himself of sin for Jesus knew no sin but became sin for mankind. St. Paul tells the Colossians what forgiveness is. "And you, who were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, having canceled the bond which stood against us with its legal demands; this He set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the principalities and powers and made a public example of them triumphing over them in Him." (Col. 2:14-15)
"Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (Jn.15;13) Jesus proved this in His death and resurrection. In His death his love is poured out to his friends and enemies when he says from the cross to His Father "Forgive them for they know not what they do." (Lk. 23:34) In His resurrection He made a pathway for us to Himself so we could attain that forgiveness that He so freely gave to us. And even now He is seated at the right hand of the Father making intercession for us. This He could not have accomplished had He not risen from the dead. There was never a doubt or obstacle with enough power to stop Him from accomplishing His mission of redemption for all mankind. The only thing that stops Jesus from entering a persons life and accomplishing His mission in the life of an individual is disbelief. Perhaps this is why St. Paul said to St. Timothy to teach others of what Paul was a witness of which was primarily the resurrection and it's good news. Could it be that St. Paul is also conveying these words to us for the same purposes? "You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." (2 Tim. 2:1-2)
His servants and yours,
Gerard & Yolanda Cleffi Directors
Oratory of Divine Love
Since the human nature of Christ is the human nature of the Son of God, and since Christ in that nature is the head of men and angels, it is natural to expect that it will have all the excellence that is possible to a human nature. This is precisely the case: in knowledge and power, the human nature of Christ possesses all the perfection possible to a human nature.
Walter Farrell, O.P.,S.T.M., Martin J. Healey, S.T.D. My Way of Life, Brooklyn, NY, Confraternity of the Precious Blood, Pg.463
Let us pray. O God, be gracious and hear the prayers which we present to you in honor of St. Peregrine, your beloved servant. May we who do not rely on our own merits receive help in our needs through the intercession of him whose life was so pleasing to you. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Marianne Lorraine Trouve, FSP, Favorite Prayers And Novenas, Boston, Pauline Books & Media Pg. 342