Alleluia! He has risen!

by Dcn. Mark Lishko  |  04/01/2026  |  Sunday Written Reflection

Easter is the most important and greatest feast in the Church. It marks the beginning of our eternal hope for three reasons:

1. The resurrection of Christ is the basis of our Catholic faith. It is more than the raising of Jesus’ body after his crucifixion. No one witnessed the actual resurrection event, but faith demands that we trust the witnesses and their testimony. St. Paul writes that “If Christ has not been raised, then our teaching is in vain, and your faith is in vain…and if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is a delusion and you are still lost in your sins…but in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.” (1 Cor15:14, 17, 20)

2. This is a guarantee of our own resurrection. At Lazarus’ tomb, Jesus tells Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me will live even though he dies.” (Jn11:25-26) The Catechism further states that through the virtue of the Holy Spirit our Catholic life is a participation in the death and resurrection of Christ. (CCC1002-3)

3. We are given hope and encouragement no matter the pain or sorrow in our lives. Christ left us His Church, the Redeeming Sacrifice of the Mass and the Holy Eucharist to guide us on this journey.

Through the good news of Easter, we are not buried in the tomb of our sins, nor in the tomb of discouragement, doubt or despair.

We are called to show others through compassion, self-sacrifice and love that the Risen Lord still resides and is active in our actions. Let us not be afraid to open ourselves to recognize Him in those we encounter in our daily lives.