Alleluia! Christ is Risen. Alleluia!

Intermountain Catholic

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IC Photo/Marie Mischel

In all of human history there is no event as dramatic, as important, as far-reaching and as essential as the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. For the person of faith, there is no doubt whatsoever that Easter is the central mystery of all life: All creation leads to it and all springs from it.

The act of creation itself, the incarnation and indeed every aspect of salvation history is contained in this one, central reality of Christ’s victory through the cross. God’s love for humanity rings clearly and loudly through the Passion, Death and Resurrection of our Savior. For it is in this, the Paschal Mystery, that we experience the ineffable love of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, calling us to life unending in union with our Triune God.

We do not have to wait for heaven to begin living the resurrection, living a new life in Christ. Rather, we live that new life right now through our baptism, confirmation and the Eucharist. Every time we gather at Eucharist, as we will do this Easter, we are united with Christ in those divine mysteries, united with the one who "… humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross." (Philippians 2:8) Jesus became priest, victim and altar as he died on the cross and rose again on the third day, thus destroying sin and death once and for all.

Every time we leave the Eucharist to live what we have celebrated, we are living witnesses of the resurrection, as were the women at the tomb and the first disciples. In this way, Easter continues its saving work in our generation and in every generation to come. Christ promised to be with us until the end of time. It is up to you and me to build up the Kingdom of God and thus contribute, as brothers and sisters in Christ, to the fulfillment of that promise.

To all my brothers and sisters in the Diocese of Salt Lake City, I wish you a blessed and peace-filled Easter.

The Most Rev. John C. Wester

Bishop of Salt Lake City