Commissioned: Timeless Truth: The Gospel Made SimpleSample

Christ is Alive!

“Christ is alive! We need to keep reminding ourselves of this because we can risk seeing Jesus Christ simply as a fine model from the distant past, as a memory, as someone who saved us two thousand years ago. But that would be of no use to us: it would leave us unchanged, it would not set us free. The one who fills us with his grace, the one who liberates us, transforms us, heals, and consoles us, is someone fully alive. He is the Christ, risen from the dead, filled with supernatural life and energy, and robed in boundless light. That is why Saint Paul could say: ‘If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile’” (1 Cor 15:17). (CV#124)

Pope Francis wrote these powerful words to the young people of the world in his famous book, Christus Vivit—Christ is Alive! In it, he gives the “great truths” that we must hear and repeat again and again: “God loves you, Christ saves you, and Christ is alive.” It is the living Christ who is with us every day, who changes, and who empowers us by His grace.

In the remarkable passage from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, the apostle tells us that not only has Jesus Christ been raised from the dead, but we have also been raised up with him and seated in heavenly places in Christ! How can this be? What does this mean?

When we are baptized, we are baptized into Christ—in terms of spiritual reality, we are “in Christ.” As Christ already reigns in heaven, victorious over sin and death, so also we, in Christ, have the victory over sin and death. We experience this victory now, at the present time, through faith and grace.

Grace is one of the most important aspects of our new life in Christ. Grace is the gift of God’s own life, infused into our souls at baptism to heal us of sin and enable us to please God. Grace is a gift, we do not earn it by our good works. But grace results in good works. As we learn to cooperate with God’s grace, we are empowered by the risen Christ to live a life pleasing to God.

Christ is alive; we live in Him, and he lives in us!

Stop, think and pray:

Let’s praise God for grace by singing the hymn, Amazing Grace:

Amazing grace! how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch; like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!

The Lord hath promised good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we first begun.