Christians, to the Paschal Victim   Offer your thankful praises!   A Lamb the sheep redeems; Christ, who only is sinless,   Reconciles sinners to the Father.  Death and life have contended   in that combat stupendous:  The Prince of Life, who died, reigns immortal.

Hi everybody, Bishop Callahan here to proclaim that Jesus Christ has indeed risen from the dead!

Take a moment to recount the historical events surrounding that first Easter … the trial of our Lord Jesus Christ – ending with the crowds calling for his crucifixion … His death on the cross – openly witnessed by many who saw first-hand that he did indeed die … and then his resurrection – The bodily rising of Jesus from the dead on the third day, after His death on the cross and His burial in the tomb – that time when He appeared to those who had previously walked with him and followed his teaching, revealing himself not theatrically but rather personally to those whom He chose. It’s His resurrection that demonstrates to us that there is a resurrection; a particular resurrection promised for each and every one of us. A very personal fact that many are unwilling to accept.

Death and life have contended and we are the beneficiaries of that stupendous combat. For without the battle between death and life, between the Devil and Jesus, there would be no resurrection or hope for our eternal future in heaven, where we are to be forever united with the Trinity and all the blessed.

Jesus is the one who takes on our mortal enemy – death –

It is Jesus who fights with Satan in Hell

It is Jesus who “un does” the bondage of slavery to sin

It is Jesus who gives us the promise of immortality.

My brothers and sisters – during this Easter Season, take time to thank God for the gift of Jesus Christ. For without His birth, without His death and without His triumphant resurrection that rescued us from the clutches of death, we would have no hope of everlasting life!

Blessed Easter to you – and I’ll see you at Sunday Mass!