Why Does Jesus’ Resurrection Matter?

This title may seem rather blunt for people who come with joy on Easter to celebrate the Resurrection! Yet in the midst of our busy lives it is hard for many of us to see relevance and value in something that happened to one person two thousand years ago. Part of our efforts this year in expanding adult opportunities to explore our faith is intentionally open to reflecting on such fundamental questions about life, God, and faith. Whether through a session of “Faith Matters” in a relaxed “adult beverage” setting, or a multi-night mission or other program, many people have found it refreshing to be engaged with others like themselves seeking deeper meaning in our complicated world. This has been a grace-filled Lenten season for our parishes as we have prepared for this day of the Resurrection: a powerful Lenten Mission, a series for “Discovering Christ” anew in our lives, and many other positive experiences of God’s love and Jesus’ desire to build our relationship with Him. And such opportunities will continue.

One night of “Discovering Christ” addressed the title of this column with four ideas for participants to discuss.  “Jesus’ Resurrection validates all that He said and did.  Jesus’ Resurrection promises us new life here and now.  Jesus’ Resurrection empowers us to share this new life with others.  Jesus’ Resurrection is the promise of everlasting life and our own bodily resurrection.” Notice that only one of these points is about our future of life after death, while the other three have to do with us here and now. How can this validation of Jesus’ teaching affect the way I listen to His words? Am I open to His gift of new life in my own life right now? Are there ways we want Christ to “raise up” our lives and those we care about? Can we find hope in the promise of the peace and joy of eternal life, hope that can carry us through the challenges of the present? Answers to one question can lead us to reflect on so many other meaningful questions in our lives!

Our collaborative parishes of St. Martha in Plainville and St. Mary in Wrentham will continue to respond to your desire for more adult faith programs and other needs you have expressed in parish surveys and through members of our Collaborative Pastoral Council. In fact, adults have recently verbalized interest in offering two programs we recently offered to our middle-school youth, but in an adult setting.

One is an exploration from both scientific and faith perspectives of the Shroud of Turin, considered by many to be the burial cloth in which the body of Jesus was wrapped. Another is a program on the relationship of faith and science from a Catholic perspective, which embraces the discoveries of science far more than many people might think. Watch our pwc.church website and this bulletin for new “Faith Matters” nights, a repeat of the Discovering Christ series, and other opportunities for us to discuss our faith in open dialog and mutually supportive ways. We have long valued religious education for our children; may we continue to grow in our faith as adults.

On behalf of the faith communities of our two parishes, may I wish you and your loved ones a blessed and joyful Easter season as we rejoice in the many ways He gives us new life!