The Egyptian pyramids are world-famous as one of the “seven Wonders” of the ancient world. But they are actually gigantic tombs containing the mummified bodies of Egyptian Pharaohs. Westminster Abbey in England is famous, and thousands visit it, because the dead bodies of famous writers, philosophers, and politicians are entombed there. But there is a Shrine of the Holy Sepulcher (“the place of burial) in Jerusalem, and pilgrims from all over the world visit “the tomb” there – which is empty! There is a sign at its entrance which says, “He is not here.” It is famous, obviously, because Jesus Christ, who was once buried there, rose from the dead, leaving an empty tomb, as He had told His disciples He would. Thus, Jesus worked the most important miracle in His life, defying the laws of nature and over the living testimony that He is God.
The Resurrection of Christ is the basis of our Christian faith. It is why St. Paul writes: “If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain; and your faith is in vain… And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is a delusion, and you are still lost in your sins… But, in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.” (First Corinthians 15, 14-20).
In the words of the Catechism of the Catholic Church: “The Resurrection of Jesus is the crowning truth of our faith in Christ, a faith believed and lived as the central truth by the first Christian community; handed on as fundamental by Tradition; established by the documents of the New Testament; and preached as an essential part of the Paschal mystery along with the Cross.” (# 638). If Jesus Christ did not rise from the dead, then the Church is a fraud and faith is a sham. But if Jesus really did rise from the dead, His life and His message are true! Without the Resurrection, Jesus would have remained forever “a good person” who had met a tragic end. People would remember some of his teachings, and a handful of people might try to live according to them. But all the basic doctrines of Christianity are founded on the truth of the Resurrection.
“Jesus is Lord; He is risen!” (from Romans 10, 9) was the central theme of the “preaching” and witness of the Apostles.
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There is a story of two women who stood before Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. One asked, “Why can’t we build structures like this anymore?” Her friend answered, “The people who built this had faith. Today we have only opinions. And you can’t build a cathedral with opinions.” Are we building our lives on faith? Wouldn’t it be silly to build them on anything else?
