Reflection

Pope John Paul II: 'In the risen Christ all creation rises to new life'

Pope John Paul II

Contents - Apr 2005 - Buy a copy now Editorial: Pope's suffering a potent Easter witness - Michael Gilchrist Australia prepares for World Youth Day 2005 in Cologne - AD2000 Report News: The Church Around the World 'Flying bishops' consecrated for orthodox Anglicans - Fr Nigel Zimmerman Exploding myths about the 'pre-Vatican II' Church - John Young Vocations: Why some new religious orders are attracting recruits - Fr John Hogan Events: Carnivale Christi returning to Sydney with an Easter theme - Liz Arblaster and Anthony McCarthy Cardinal Ratzinger: Liturgy should be God-centred - Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger Letters: Dissent - Fr John Speekman Scripture: So, what else did Jesus say? - Gavan O'Farrell Adore 05: Sydney's successful Eucharistic Youth Congress - Nicole Osmak Letters: ACU - Sabina Sannen Letters: Chavagnes International College - Raymond De Souza Letters: Teaching the faith - Rosanna Sherman Letters: Stations of the Cross - D.T.S. Moorhouse Letters: Religious habit - Fr G.H. Duggan SM Letters: Practice of faith - Br Con Moloney CFC Letters: Confession - J.G. Wilson Letters: Talking in Church - Judith McRae Letters: Christ the Creator - Gerard J. Keane Letters: Good news - Geoff Storey Letters: Pregnancy Assistance - Brian A. Peachey Books: The Path to Rome: Modern Journeys to the Catholic Church - Michael Casanova (reviewer) Books: Love Alone Is Credible, by Hans urs von Balthasar - Kerrie Allen (reviewer) Books: Mass Without a Congregation: A Sign of Unity or Division? - Michael Gilchrist (reviewer) Poetry: A Centurion Reflects - Bruce Dawe Books: Religious resources for 2005 Reflection: Pope John Paul II: 'In the risen Christ all creation rises to new life' - Pope John Paul II Marian Valley Shrine of Our Lady Help of Christians, Canungra

May the Easter proclamation - "In the risen Christ all creation rises to new life" - reach all the peoples of the earth and may all people of good will feel themselves called to an active role in this day which the Lord has made, the day of his Resurrection, when the Church, filled with joy, proclaims that the Lord is truly risen.

The amazed surprise of the Apostles and the women who rushed to the tomb at sunrise becomes the shared experience of the whole People of God which hands on to the younger generation the certitude that is basic to our lives: Christ is risen and in him all creation rises to new life.

To him the pilgrim Church remains faithful "amid the world's persecutions and God's consolations" (Saint Augustine). She looks to him and has no fear. She walks with her gaze fixed on his face, and repeats to the men and women of our day that he, the Risen One, is "the same yesterday and today and forever" (Heb 13:8).

Plan of salvation

On that tragic Friday of the Passion, which saw the Son of man become "obedient unto death, even death on a cross" (Phil 2:8), the earthly phase of the Redeemer's life came to a close. Now dead, he was hurriedly placed in the tomb, at the setting of the sun.

A singular sunset! The ominous darkness of that hour signalled the end of the "first act" of creation, convulsed by sin. It seemed like the victory of death, the triumph of evil. Instead, while the tomb lay in cold silence, the plan of salvation was approaching its fulfilment, and the "new creation" was about to begin.

Made obedient by love even to the extreme sacrifice, Jesus Christ is now "exalted" by God, who "has bestowed on him the name which is above every name" (Phil 2:9). In this name every human life recovers hope. In this name human beings are freed from the power of sin and death and restored to life and to love.

On this day heaven and earth sing out the ineffable and sublime "name" of the Crucified One who has risen. Everything appears as before, but in fact nothing is the same as before. He, the Life that does not die, has redeemed every human life and reopened it to hope: "The old has passed away, behold, the new has come" (cf. 2 Cor 5:17).

Every project and plan of this noble and frail creature that is man has a new "name" in Christ risen from the dead, for "in him all creation rises to new life". The words of Genesis are fully fulfilled in this new creation: "Then God said: 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness'" (Gen 1:26). At Easter, Christ, the new Adam, having become "a life-giving spirit" (1 Cor 15:45), ransoms the old Adam from the defeat of death.

The Easter gift of light that scatters the darkness of fear and sadness is meant for everyone; all are offered the gift of the peace of the Risen Christ, who breaks the chains of violence and hatred.

We now rediscover with joy and wonder that the world is no longer a slave to the inevitable. This world of ours can change: peace is possible even where for too long there has been fighting and death.

Men and women of every continent, draw from his tomb, empty now for ever, the strength needed to defeat the powers of evil and death, and to place all research and all technical and social progress at the service of a better future for all.

Commitment

From the moment when your tomb, O Christ, was found empty and Cephas, the disciples, the women, and "more than five hundred brethren" (1 Cor 15:6) saw you risen, there began the time in which the whole of creation sings your name "which is above every other name" and awaits your final return in glory.

During this time, between Easter and the coming of your everlasting Kingdom, a time like the travail of giving birth (cf. Rom 8:22), sustain us in our dedication to building a more humane world, a world soothed by the balm of your love.

Paschal Victim offered for the salvation of the world, grant that this commitment of ours will not falter, even when weariness slows our steps. You, victorious King, grant to us and to the world eternal salvation!

Urbi et Orbi Message, Easter Sunday, 15 April 2001. Courtesy of Catholic Information Network.

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 18 No 3 (April 2005), p. 20