Homily for Easter, 2009

Easter Day
April 11, 2009

Our faith is built on one central belief. It is the belief that Jesus Christ, after his death on the cross, has risen from the dead. That is why our celebration of Easter is so important.

Yesterday there was a marathon (a run of over 26 miles) through the streets of Champaign-Urbana. If some persons had not known about it, they would have wondered why all those people were running through the city streets.
If you were in Jerusalem on that first Easter morning, you would have wondered at the sight of several people running through the streets of that city in great excitement. They were running from Jesus’ tomb, which was outside the city wall, across the city to the upper room. This was the place where the disciples were gathered in great sorrow over Jesus’ death.
And you could hear the runners saying to each other, “Jesus has risen just he had promised.” They were very excited

Today with the same excitement we say to each other that Jesus Christ is risen from the dead. And that we shall also rise with him.
This is a day of special joy for all of us.

We also rejoice that on this feast of Easter several people have received baptism. It is appropriate to have these baptisms today because baptism is an Easter sacrament.
Today we shall also renew the promises we made at our baptisms and we shall be sprinkled with baptismal water.
This is a happy day for all of us.

Alleluia!