Easter is the great victory of life over death. We proclaim with joy, “Christ is risen! He is truly risen!” because the tomb is empty. The cross, once a sign of suffering, now stands as a symbol of life and hope. This is not just a story from the past – it is a truth that transforms our lives today.
To understand Easter, we must remember what came before it. Jesus suffered deeply – betrayed by a friend, abandoned by his disciples, mocked and beaten, forced to carry his cross. On Good Friday, all seemed lost. His mother, Mary, stood in sorrow as he died. His followers were broken, their dreams shattered. Darkness filled their hearts. But then came the third day. The stone was rolled away, and the impossible had happened. Jesus was no longer among the dead – he had risen! What seemed like defeat had become the greatest victory. Death was not the end. Love had conquered.
Easter matters because we, too, experience suffering. We see pain in the world – war, sickness, injustice. In our own lives, we carry burdens – loss, disappointment, fear. At times, we wonder if things will ever change. But Easter tells us that suffering does not have the last word – God does. And his word is life. When Jesus rose from the dead, he showed us that God’s love is stronger than anything we will ever face. The resurrection is not just about what happened to Jesus; it is a promise for us, too. No matter how lost or broken we feel, God can bring new life. He can heal what is wounded, restore what is shattered, and open a path where there seems to be none.
Easter also reminds us that God is faithful. When Jesus died, his disciples thought all was over. They could not see that God was still at work. How often do we feel the same way? In moments of suffering, we struggle to believe that God has a plan. But Easter teaches us that even in the darkest times, he is bringing about something greater than we can imagine. He never forgets us. He never gives up on us.
Jesus’ resurrection does not erase suffering from our lives, but it transforms it. He did not remain distant from our pain – he entered into it. He felt grief, rejection, and even death. And because he overcame, he gives us the strength to face our struggles with hope. Easter is also an invitation to start again. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is at work in us. We all carry burdens – past mistakes, broken relationships, struggles we cannot seem to overcome. But Easter reminds us that with God, nothing is beyond redemption. He is always offering us a new beginning. So how do we live as Easter people? We choose hope. We forgive, as God forgives us. We reach out to those who feel forgotten. We become bearers of light in a world that often feels dark. We draw strength from Jesus, meeting him in prayer, in scripture, and in the Eucharist, where he nourishes us with his own life.
Saint John Chrysostom once said, “Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again, for forgiveness has risen from the tomb.” This is the heart of Easter. Christ’s resurrection is not just his victory – it is ours. No matter what we go through, no matter how lost we feel, God is not finished with us yet. So let us go forward today with joy. Let us proclaim, not just with our words but with our lives: Christ is risen! He is truly risen! The victory of Easter is the victory of life over death, love over fear, hope over despair. And this is not just a truth for today, but for every day. Let us live in that joy, now and always.
Rev. Dr. Mathew Charthakuzhiyil