At Eastertime, Christians everywhere proclaim the victory of Life over death in the person of Jesus Christ, in his Passion, Death, and Resurrection.  His is an act of freedom and love that covers the whole universe, as only God could do.  It´s the foundation of our hope.  It is God´s response to the world, who tells us, through the resurrection of Christ, that it is life, and not injustice, corruption, lies, or hate, that has the final say. 

Without resurrection, the cross makes no sense.  But resurrection comes by way of the cross.  The crucified and Risen Lord is “the key, the center and the end of all human history” (Gaudium et Spes).

By his death, Christ penetrated even the hell of meaninglessness, in order to fill it with meaning.  God does not hesitate to enter the lower regions so as to give meaning to human existence, transforming evil into good and death into life.  It is the force of good and of life that leads Christians to commit themselves, even risking their own lives, especially in those places where life is threatened and destroyed.

It is true that we cannot speak of Easter joy and the triumph of life over death while we forget the wars and atrocities that destroy innocent lives today, whether done for staying in power or to prevail among drug cartels, or for tribal motives, as in Africa and in Syria. 

It is also true that there are small signs of light that need to be supported and helped to grow:  as the light of so many Christians and others of good will that generously help the neediest and the sick, or those social efforts that seek reconciliation, such as in Africa and in Colombia, and the solidarity among poor people, and movements for peace, reconciliation, justice, etc. 

These are signs that invite us to follow Jesus Christ, who goes before us into Galilee.  May we follow in the footsteps of the Risen Lord, who by giving his life receives life.  Because, as someone once said, “What isn´t given away is lost.”  Let us continue giving generously, in the way of the Master, who spent his life doing good.

¡Lord, you conquered death for having done the will of God your Father, help us be witnesses of life and resurrection in this world!

Bernardo Claireau, fc