8 April 2013 In the Joy of the Risen Christ Rejoice at Christ the Lord’s victory over death! The victory of life, of good over evil. It is from this Christian certainty of the victory over every fear of death that your march toward a more human future should take its steps: a future of liberty for God’s children. In the certainty of this victory — which is that of everyone who believes in him, you are called to set your thoughts going: on mature and lucid acceptance of reality, reconciliation and hence, alliance among yourselves, with adults and with society in its manifold aspects. Such an alliance with reality, such adherence to it, so as to improve and alter it, causes a ‘new creativity’ to be loosed from your minds, based on perceptive analysis of situations, forces and mechanisms at work; and finally, on happy recovery of the commitment to liberate, to save, to promote. As you accomplish this undertaking, it is necessary to bear in mind above all that the very foundation of the alliance with reality, is found in reconciliation with God. If man finds in God that vital reunion with the roots of his own being, of his own harmony and his own unification, he holds the key to overcoming every form of fear. Hence, the key to liberation and fresh creation: ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ Listen to ‘the words of this fundamental alliance with the Lord’, in Christ Jesus and in the Church, his Mystical Body. Ref: Cf “Prayers and Devotions from Pope John Paul II”, pp162-3 The Resurrection Points to the Real Humanism Why did Christ speak of remission of sins immediately after the words, “Receive the Holy Spirit”? He said, “If you forgive men’s sins, they are forgiven them; if you hold them bound, they are held bound” (Jn 20:23). Remission of sins supposes knowledge and confession of sins. Both signify ‘effort to live in truth and love’. It means the action of ‘the power of truth and love’, which forms the new man and transforms the world. The contradiction is ‘falsification’ of the truth and ‘simulation’ of love. Contradiction is removing the line of demarcation between good and evil; calling humanism what is actually ‘sin’. It would be very easy, unfortunately, to cite examples. Terrorism is rightly condemned as an attack upon and violation of elementary rights of man. Killing of man is condemned as something manifestly contrary to man’s very existence. At the same time, however, depriving a human being ‘not yet born’ of life is called ‘humanism’; a ‘proof of progress’, emancipation; conforming with human dignity! Let us not deceive ourselves! We must all denounce such contradictions. Remember, only “the truth will set you free” (Jn 8:32). Only the truth has power to transform the world towards authentic progress and real ‘humanism’. And let us not call the demands of truth, conscience and dignity a purely ‘political’ choice. Man may not renounce them. Ref: Cf “Prayers and Devotions from Pope John Paul II”, 1984, pp172-3 The impact of the Incarnation in our life The Incarnation should have a pronounced and dramatic impact on our life. This event is the central moment of human history. Without Christ, life has no meaning. “Christ the Redeemer ‘fully reveals man to himself.’” (John Paul II, Encyclical, “Redemptor hominis”, 4 Mar 1979, 11) It is only through Christ that we will come to understand our inner self and everything that matters most to us: the hidden value of pain and of work well-done, the authentic peace and joy which surpass natural feelings and life’s uncertainties, the delightful prospect of the supernatural reward in our eternal homeland. “Unceasingly contemplating the whole of Christ’s mystery, the Church knows with all the certainty of faith that the Redemption that took place through the cross has definitively restored his dignity to man and given back meaning to this life in the world, a meaning that was lost to a considerable extent because of sin.” (Ibid, 10) The human testimony of the Son of God teaches us that all earthly realities ought to be loved and offered up to Heaven. Christ has transformed the human condition into a pathway to God. Consequently, the Christian’s struggle for perfection takes on a truly positive character. It does not mean erasing man’s humanity so that the divine might shine out instead. Sanctity does not require total separation from worldly affairs. For it is not human nature that opposes God’s will, but sin and the effects of original sin which have so severely damaged our souls. Our struggle to become like Christ brings with it a life-long battle against whatsoever degrades our humanity -- egoism, envy, sensuality, a critical spirit ... The authentic struggle for sanctity involves every aspect of the proper development of human personality: professional work, human and social virtues, love for everything that is truly human. Similarly, the humanity of Christ is not effaced by his divinity. Thus, through the Incarnation, the human condition preserves its integrity and finds its final end. “Through his Incarnation, through his work at Nazareth and his preaching and miracles in Judaea and Galilee, through his death on the cross and through his Resurrection, Christ is the centre of the universe, the firstborn and Lord of all creation. “Our task as Christians is to proclaim this kingship of Christ, announcing it through what we say and do. Our Lord wants men and women of his own in all walks of life. Some he calls away from society, asking them to give up involvement in the world, so they remind the rest of us by their example that God exists. To others he entrusts the priestly ministry. But he wants the vast majority to stay right where they are, in all earthly occupations in which they work: the factory, the laboratory, the farm, the trades, the streets of big cities and the trails of the mountains.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 105) This is the context of our vocation. Let us go to the Mother of Jesus who is also our Mother. “O Mary! ... by your conception you have brought our Saviour to the world ... O Mary, blessed be you among all women for ever ... the Godhead has become one with our humanity in such a permanent bond that nothing can break it -- not our ingratitude, not even death itself.” (St Catherine of Siena, “Elevaciones”, 15) Blessed are you! Ref: Cf Francis Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 6:179-180 • Feast of the miracles of Our Lady, at Cambron, near Mons, in the Low Countries. — Locrius. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com) • Miracles of Our Lady (Cambron: near Mons, Belgium). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html) • Feast of the Miracles of Our Lady. Cambron, near Mons, Belgium. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm) • Our Lady of the Valley, Sicily (1040). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html) • Our Lady of the Valley. 1040. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)