The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz) - Day 91: Christ Rose from the Dead

Episode Date: April 1, 2023

The Catechism tackles “the crowning truth of our faith in Christ,” “the central truth by the first Christian community,” Jesus’ bodily resurrection from the dead. Fr. Mike makes sure we understand that Christ’ resurrection cannot be interpreted as a legend or a metaphor, but as a true, historical fact. Today's readings are Catechism paragraphs 638-644. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/ciy If you have found this podcast to be helpful in your faith life and would like to help us continue bringing this Catholic media to as many people as possible, please consider making an ongoing financial gift at ascensionpress.com/support. Please note: The Catechism of the Catholic Church contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Before we get started, I just wanted to offer a quick thank you to all those who have supported the Categism and Ear or the Bible in Ear podcasts. We hear stories every day about how those shows have transformed people's lives. And because of your prayers and financial gifts, you are a significant part of that. You might ask a question though. The question is, what does the ascension do with these financial gifts? Great question. The answer is, we make authentically Catholic podcasts and videos and other digital content to help people know the Catholic faith and grow closer to God every day. And we do it all for free. If you found this podcast be helpful in your life and would like to help us continue making

free Catholic content we can post online. Please consider making a financial contribution and ongoing financial contribution by going to ascensionpress.com slash support. That's ascensionpress.com slash support. That's AscensionPress.com slash support. Thank you and God bless. Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz and you're listening to The Catechism in the Year Podcast, where we encounter God's plan of sheer goodness for us, revealed in scripture and passed down to the tradition of the Catholic faith. The Catechism in New Year is brought to you by Ascension. In 365 days, we'll read through the Catechism of the Catholic Church, discovering our identity and God's family, as we journey

together toward our heavenly home. This is day 91, rereading paragraphs 638-644. I'm using the Ascension edition of the Catechism, which includes the foundations of faith approach, but you can follow along with any recent version of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. You can also download your own Catechism in your reading plan by visiting ascensionpress.com slash cyy and lastly, you can click follow or subscribe with your podcast app for daily updates and daily notifications. Today is the 91 reading paragraphs 638-644 yesterday. We talked about the fact that Jesus descended into hell all that that meant.

Well, just we didn't plumb the depths of that, but we did talk about it. And hopefully shed some light on what it really is when we say declare, profess that Jesus descended to the realm of the dead today. Paragraph two is on the third day, he rose again from the dead. And we're gonna talk about the reality that the resurrection is an historical

and transcendent event. We about the reality that the resurrection is an historical and transcendent event. We're going to recount basically the story of the resurrection today and not only recount the story of the resurrection, but the catechism today, we're making it absolutely clear that the resurrection really and truly happened. Now, we know this. This is an historical reality. There is proof of the reality of the resurrection. Now there are some people who would say that well, you know the resurrection is real but that's because Jesus really rose in the heart of the believers. That is not true. That is not what the church is saying. Jesus really rose literally from the dead, bodily from the dead, corporeally from the dead, right? And so we have to affirm this as Catholic Christians. We recognize that all of the signs of Christ's

resurrection from the empty tomb to the appearances to Mary Magdalene and to the old, the other Holy Women, his appearances to Peter, his appearances to all the other apostles, and even as St. Paul says, to over 500 people at once, all of that points to the fact, the historical fact of the physical resurrection of Jesus, bodily resurrection of Jesus from the dead. We're gonna affirm that today, and we're just gonna walk in that today, because this is a fundamental truth,

a fundamental truth about Christianity. If Jesus has not risen from the dead, then our faith is worthless. It is absolutely worthless. If Jesus has not truly risen from the dead. And so because of that, we just get to launch into that today. I'm just no more words. Let's just pray. And let's dive in to paragraphs 638 to 644. Father in heaven, we give you praise. Thank you so much for your son's resurrection. Thank you so much, not only for the fact that he gave himself out of love, that he lived the life of obedience to redeem us and to glorify you,

but also thank you, thank you for his resurrection. Thank you for the gift of proving to us that he is who he says he is in the resurrection from the dead. We thank you for inviting us to have a share in that resurrection, as you have invited us to participate in his passion, as you have invited us to participate in His Passion. As you've invited us to participate in His suffering, you also, Lord God, you also invite us to participate in His Resurrection. So this day, we rejoice, because this day we know, we know that you are the conqueror of death. We know that you are the one who was slain and yet still live forever and ever. You are the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the one who was, who is, and who is to come, and we praise and glorify you in Jesus' name,

amen. And the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, amen. Again, it's day 91, we're reading paragraphs 638 to 644. 8 to 644. Paragraph 2 On the third day, he rose again from the dead. The Acts of the Apostles states, We bring you the good news that, But God promised to the fathers this day, He has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus. 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. As is prayed in the Byzantine liturgy, Christ has risen from the dead, dying He conquered death to the dead He has given life. The historical and transcendent event. The mystery of Christ's resurrection is a real event, with manifestations that were historically

verified as the New Testament bears witness. In about 8056, St. Paul could already write to the Corinthians. I delivered to you, as of first importance, what I also received, that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Kaifa, then to the 12. Apostle here speaks of the living tradition of the resurrection, which he had learned after his conversion at the gates of Damascus. The empty tomb.

The angels asked, why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen. The first element we encounter in the framework of the Easter events is the empty tomb. In itself, it is not a direct proof of resurrection. The absence of Christ's body from the tomb could be explained otherwise, nonetheless, the empty tomb was still an essential sign for all. Its discovery by the disciples was the first step to recognizing the very fact of the resurrection. This was the case, first with the holy women, and then with Peter. The disciple whom Jesus loved affirmed that when he entered the empty tomb and discovered the lint cloths lying

there, he saw and believed. This suggests that he realized from the empty tomb's condition that the absence of Jesus' body could not have been of human doing, and that Jesus had not simply returned to earthly life as had been the case with Lazarus. The appearances of the risen one. Mary Magdalene and the Holy Women who came to finish anointing the body of Jesus, which had been buried in haste because the Sabbath began on the evening of Good Friday, were the first to encounter the risen one. Thus, the women were the first messengers of Christ's resurrection for the apostles themselves. They were the next to whom Jesus appears, first Peter, then the twelve.

Peter had been called to strengthen the faith of his brothers, and so seized the risen one before them. It is on the basis of his testimony that the community exclaims, the Lord has risen indeed and has appeared to Simon. Everything that happened during those pastoral days involves each of the apostles, and Peter in particular, in the building of the new era begun on Easter morning. As witnesses of the risen one, they remain the foundation stones of his church. The faith of the first community of believers is based on the witness of concrete men known to the Christians, and for the most part, still living among them.

Peter and the Twelve are the primary witnesses to his resurrection, but they are not the only ones. Paul speaks clearly of more than 500 persons to whom Jesus appeared on a single occasion and also of James and of all the apostles. Given all these testimonies, Christ's resurrection cannot be interpreted as something outside the physical order, and it is impossible not to acknowledge it as an historical fact. It is clear from the facts that the disciples' faith was drastically put to the test by their master's passion and death on the cross, which he had foretold.

The shock provoked by the passion was so great that at least some of the disciples did not at once believe in the news of the resurrection. Far from showing us a community seized by a mystical exaltation, the Gospels present us with disciples demoralized, looking sad, and frightened. For they had not believed the Holy Women returning from the tomb, and it regarded their words as an idol tale. When Jesus reveals himself to the eleven on Easter evening, he abraded them for their unbelief and hardest of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen.

Even when faced with the reality of the risen Jesus, the disciples are still doubtful, so impossible did the things seem. They thought they were seeing a ghost. Luke recounts, in their joy, they were still disbelieving and still wondering. Thomas will also experience the test of doubt, and St. Matthew relates that during the risen Lord's last appearance in Galilee, some doubted. Therefore, the hypothesis that the resurrection was produced by the apostles' faith or credulity will not hold up on the contrary. Their faith in the resurrection was born under the

action of divine grace, from their direct experience of the reality of the risen Jesus. Okay, so there we are, paragraphs 638-644. This man just emphasizing the reality, the historicity of the resurrection of Jesus. This is so important for us. Again, let's go back to what St. Paul Paul had written if Christ is not raised from the dead Our faith is in vain. There are some Christians even some Christians who will say that not again as I said at the beginning of this He rose in their hearts. He rose in and they basically

And they said you know the message of Jesus really isn't dead and so he really is alive in us. No, no, no Yes, we know the message of Christ is not dead and so he really is alive in us. No, no, no, no. Yes, we know the message of Christ is not dead. Yes, Christ is alive in us, but he actually also rose from the dead bodily, and this is absolutely essential. I love the fact that the church here

is making it absolutely clear that this is an historical fact. The empty tomb isn't definitive proof, but the empty tomb points to this reality, and even the fact that here is the disciple whom Jesus loved, it's his paragraph 640, you know, John, that he entered the tomb, and he discovered the linen cloths lying there. He saw and believed, and I love this. It says this suggests that he realized from the empty tomb's condition with the cloths

there, that the absence of Jesus' body could not have been a human doing, and that Jesus had not simply returned to earthly life as had been the case with Lazarus. Remember Lazarus, when he was risen from the dead by Jesus by the power of God in Jesus Christ, that he was still bound, hand in foot, right? He had the linen cloths wrapped around the baroque cloths wrapped around him. But here's John who looks into the tomb and he sees the linen cloths lying there in such a way, they must have been in such a way that he recognized that no, Jesus truly had risen from the dead, not like Lazarus, but in this unique and unprecedented way is remarkable. And then of course, Jesus appears first to Mary Magdalene and the other holy women.

And in this is the beginning, they become the apostles to the apostles, right? They become the first ones to bring the message of resurrection, the core of this, you know, Christian, new Christian faith to the apostles themselves. And it's remarkable. Then, of course, Peter is next, adds his witness to their testimony. And it's remarkable. Everything that happened, paragraph 642, everything that happened during those pastoral days involves each of the apostles and Peter in particular in the building of the new era begun on Easter morning. And this is, they all become witnesses to his resurrection.

Even more than that, it says this, that Paul speaks clearly of more than 500 persons to whom Jesus appeared on a single occasion. Now, even when Paul says that, he also says, this is in 1 Corinthians, when Paul notes that, he also says, many of whom are alive, although some have fallen asleep, that most of those 500 people they're still alive. Now, why would he say that? Here's my theory. My theory is that Paul makes a point of saying many of whom are alive because he's declaring the true resurrection of Jesus Christ to the Corinthians. Basically saying, if you really want to talk to those people who had seen the risen Christ, they're still alive. They're still around over 500 of them. Some of yes, some have died, but many of them are still alive. This is an historical reality, an historical fact in paragraphs

643 and 644 make it very very clear. Given all these testimonies, Christ's Resurrection, this is paragraph 643. Christ's Resurrection cannot be interpreted as something outside the physical order, and it is impossible not to acknowledge it as an historical fact, and this is so completely true. They, not only, not only did they see this and they gave witness to this, but they were transformed. They went from being people demoralized, discouraged, frightened, to people who transformed, people emboldened, people courageous.

It wasn't their faith that did this. It was the fact that they saw all the resurrection. It wasn't their codulity, like in the sense that they would just believe whatever someone told them. It was the fact that they actually had truly encountered the risen Jesus. At the same time, this is remarkable. 644, the last paragraph we have for today. Even when faced with the reality of the risen Jesus, the disciples are still doubtful, so

impossible that the things seem. They thought they were seeing a ghost. I love that. It's a quote from Luke chapter 24, where it says, in their joy, they were still disbelieving and still wondering. You know, we have doubting Thomas, of course. Even though all of his friends, these people, he knows very well, is saying, we saw Jesus, he was alive. He says, nope, unless I put my fingers in the nail marks on my hand, in his side, I will not believe. Even, even during Christ's last appearance in Galilee, it says, Some doubted, John chapter 20 and Matthew chapter 28.

Some doubted. Therefore, church maintains the hypothesis that the resurrection was produced by the Apostles' faith. They just wanted this to happen, or could Cudulity, they'd believe anything, will not hold up on the contrary. Their faith and the resurrection was born under the action of divine grace from their direct experience of the reality of the risen Jesus,

the reality of the risen Jesus, which is remarkable. Absolutely incredible. I'm so grateful, so grateful. You know, one last note about the resurrection and about the apostles' fidelity, the apostles' faithfulness. It is one thing to tell a lie, to get ahead, right? It's one thing to tell a lie to get what you want or to avoid pain. But to bear witness to the resurrection was not a lie. It was not a lie to get power. resurrection was not a lie. It was not a lie to get power.

It was not a lie to avoid pain because why? Because in their bearing witness to the resurrection, they could have all gone home. Every one of them was free to go. Every one of them was free to go. They could all just go back to their jobs. They could all go back to their former lives. They could have just lived out their lives in peace. They could have lived out their lives in tranquility. They could have just lived out their lives in peace, they could have lived out their lives in tranquility, they could have just lived out their lives.

However, they wanted. Because they encountered the risen, the living, the true historical fact of Jesus Christ risen from the dead. What did it bring them? Fame? No. Infamy. Did it bring them power? Absolutely not. Did it bring them a long life? Honors? Health? Wealth? None of those things. In fact, it brought them all to an early death, except for John. But even John, he lived a life of pain and of suffering, of painful love and of suffering love, but of pain and suffering

nonetheless. No one would give their lives for a lie. These men and these women, they bore witness to the reality, the truth that they saw Christ risen from the dead, and it cost them everything. It cost them their entire lives. Not one of them, even though all of them were tortured, not one of them ever said, I made the whole thing up. Because why?

Because they didn't make the whole thing up. Because they actually encountered Jesus risen from the dead. My brothers and sisters, the resurrection is an historical fact. It is true. It happened. Jesus Christ is Lord of the living and of the dead. He has conquered death and He now lives for the glory of the Father and He lives to intercede for you and He lives to intercede for me. And so let's do that. Let's join in this intercession. As we pray for each other, I am praying for you. Please pray for me. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.