Courtesy - Sunday Observer by Rev. Fr. Leopold Ratnasekera, OMI Oblate Scholasticate, AmpitiyaEaster proclaims the decisive gospel event of the Resurrection of Lord Jesus which is at the inner core of the Church's faith. It is this paschal faith from which all understanding about the mysteries of sin and grace flow. The Lamb of God that was slain took away the sins of the world and emerging from the empty tomb vanquished the darkness and gloom of death.
Instead of the sorrow and pain of death, there is given to us now the joy and jubilation of Grace. Prophet Ezekiel shows how people are invited to a life in God: "Cast away from you all transgressions that you have committed against me, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone says the Lord God.
Turn, then, and live." (Ezek. 18:31-32).
Right before entering the promised land God tells his people to make a choice: "I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, loving the Lord your God" (Deut. 30:19-20).
Jesus affirms the revelation to Moses given at the burning bush that the God of the patriarchs is God not of the dead, but of the living (Mark 12:26-27). This was to illustrate the truth of life after death, the pledge of which was his Own Resurrection. Through it, the great act of redemption has been accomplished and the final enemy of man which is death has been defeated.
Is it not St. Paul who says that the wages of sin is death?
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