What Makes Easter So Special? It’s

   As we consider this evening, this day, when we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, as we celebrate the welcoming of new Catholics into the Church, I started to wonder. Why do many people consider the Christian way of life so tedious, so joyless, so difficult? Is it that people look at following the path of Jesus drudgery? Is it that most people just don’t have the time to give Him much thought or consideration? After all, we do have to earn a living. We do have obligations to our children. And so, many go about their lives acknowledging that there is a God, and somewhat giving lip service to Jesus.

   I have a lot of questions today. So, I might as well begin. What about this celebration of Easter? What makes Easter so special? Well, the obvious answer is: Jesus, who is fully man and fully God, rose from the dead; and by doing that, He gave us the ability to do the same. It’s hard for us to fathom what it’s like to rise from the dead. In fact, it’s very difficult for us to fathom what it’s like to die. How difficult was it for Jesus to die? Considering that Jesus was fully human, we have to say that it was extremely painful for him to die. Put simply, there was no easy way.

   You’ve seen the Staples commercial on television, haven’t you? The nurses and assistants are completely amazed at how quickly and perfectly the major brain surgery went. When asked how the surgeon did it – he smiled, and pressed the button. When the office manager came to the lowly worker and asked for an article while sharpening her pencil, drowning out the essence of the request, the worker looked befuddled. How was he going to get the unknown object? A co-worker thrust before him – the button; and off he went, ultimately receiving, from the all-knowing Staples clerk, the necessary help to find the mysterious object.

   Well, Jesus did not have an button for His crucifixion. There was no such gimmick in His day. He did it the old-fashioned way – He earned it. What He had, however, was the assurance of His Father’s embrace, His Father’s help. When He was in the grave, He didn’t have an button to press, and – poof – there He was, rising from the dead. What He had, however, was His Father’s power and love.

   Now, what about you and me? Do you want (security and peace and meaning and joy that lasts for ev-) er? What was that? Must be something wrong with my mike. I said, do you want (security and peace and meaning and joy that lasts for ev-) er? You look bewildered and confused. You didn’t hear what I said? Must be some kind of interference. Maybe some distractions and noise around you. What do you want?

   Well, I have a solution. I have my own button. All you have to do is press it, and you will be referred to the right place for an answer. Now, let’s see if we can find an answer to the hidden question. Was it pap-er? I don’t think so. Was it a cordless USB adapt-er? Nope. Well, let’s go to the source – my EASY button.

The words on my button stand for something special. E-A-S are the first three letters of EASTER. The Y stands for YOU. EASTER, and the deep meaning behind it, is for YOU. EASTER is the answer to the somewhat indistinct, perplexing and sometimes confusing questions you may have. Let’s consider some of them.

   How can you be forgiven for your sins?  – Jesus already did that on the cross, and gave us confession as His assurance of forgiveness. How do you know that Jesus really loves you?  – who has a God who is so loving as to give His life just for us? How can we receive His mercy? – as we can read in St. Faustina’s diary, Jesus told us how deep and total His mercy is. And He said it’s for FREE, no strings attached. All we have to do is ask for it. And, by the way, we celebrate His Divine Mercy next Sunday, on the feast of Divine Mercy.

   What more could we want? You see? Jesus has made it for us! And now – for the question I asked earlier before my mike failed: Do you want meaning and peace and security and joy that lasts for ever?  ! Come to the Source for your answer. Come to Jesus. So many people ask what is the meaning of their life (why am I living; what’s the purpose of my life?); and they just don’t seem to get an answer. And so they become discouraged and feeling hopeless. It’s because they don’t go to the right person for the answer. Let me give you an example. Let’s say that I invented something; then gave it to you, without telling you what it’s for. You wouldn’t know what to do with it. I’d have to tell you first. It’s the same way with your life. God invented you – created you. He created you in His own image, and placed you on this earth to come to know Him and love Him and serve Him, and to be with Him forever in heaven. So, if you want to know how much your life is worth, how loved you are, what is your purpose in life – - just ask Him. He knows all the answers.

   Now, I’m not saying that life is easy. And I’m not saying that there is “easy grace.” The life and grace that Jesus gives you is free. But it still takes personal commitment on our part. It takes confession, firm resolution, constant, loving worship, and walking the way of the cross in His footsteps. In this way – you will not only survive this life. You will be a winner!

By being here today, you’ve just pressed the EASTER is for YOU button. You’ll never be the same. Now, go out and LIVE your answer!

Now that the Super Bowl hoopla has subsided, many fans (and not only men), may be asking the question, "Is there life after the Super Bowl?"  What are we to do as we suffer the withdrawal pains of no more weekly football games for at least eight months?  Well, let's consider this question a bit more deeply, and add one more question:  "Is there life after this life?"
I don't thihnk it's too much a stretch of the imagination to relate championship sports with our spiritual life.  Consider how, at the beginning of the season, all the teams dream of the "big game."  To turn the dream into reality, however, it takes discipline, and sacrifice, some pain , and plenty of hard work.  In the long run, it's all worth the effort.  Also, the team needs a good coach, a willingness to listen to him, and a game plan that makes sense.  Of course, the key ingredient is the personal question: "Do I want this more than anything in my life?  Put them all together, and you've got a winning combination.
Now, look at your life.  Have you had any "Super Bowl" moments recently? Maybe no.  Or -- maybe we won't have our championship until our last down is played.  I think that's the case.  Oh, we'll surely have some moments of "glory," some taste of the prize; but we won't get the whole prize until we see God face to face.
This is why we have the season of Lent in the Church year.  Considering that we have our eyes set on the prize (life with God), we have to do what's necessary to achieve it.  Have discipline (follow the way of Jesus on the narrow road).  Work on yourself (know your faults and confess your sins).  Sacrifice (sometimes it hurts to do the right thing, and to apply yourself to prayer).  This is the formula for success.

Certainly, our team (The Body of Christ) needs a good coach.  What better one than the One we have -- Jesus our Lord.  He has a game plan that makes the greatest sense.  First, start with the Ten Commandments (God's unchangeable ways); toss in Jesus' admonition to love God first, and your neighbor as yourself; then add a burst of the Holy Spirit for guidance and direction to the goal line.  Of course, you can't be arrogant and self centered; you have to listen and believe in His plan, and follow it.

This year, this Lent, start all over again.  Are you daring enough to dream the dream of seeing God face to face?  Do you think that goal is worth your efforts?  Do you want it more than anything else?  Then welcome to training camp!  Welcome to the journey of effort and practice.  Your teammates promise to block for you, tackle the opponent, and lift up your spirits when you're down.  You've just made the team!  And when you've down your best, your Father in heaven will put His ring on your finger, and, to the cheering of all the saints and angels in heaven, like the father of the wayward son, He'll say: "Well done, good and faithful servant.  Join in the Super Banquet with Me!"