Easter must never end

After the resurrection of Jesus and the death of Judas, Peter announced that there was need to replace Judas. He made it clear, “Whoever is chosen will join us as a witness to the resurrection.” (Acts 1: 22). The Greek word “martys” has given us “martyr” which literally means a witness. Witnesses remained faithful through persecution and suffering and later the word “witness” was synonymous with “martyr”, one who suffered death for the faith. Before Jesus left his disciples to continue his ministry he promised, “You will receive the power of the spirit and you will be my disciples.” (Acts 1:8) Witnesses can be false, convincing, confused or credible. The witnesses to the resurrection had to be persons who had to do more than proclaim an event. They had to show a new faith, a new power, and a new hope. The crucified Christ was now the conquering Christ. God gave the apostles a “victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The first martyr of the church, Stephen, prayed as he was being stoned to death, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” and “Lord don't charge them with this sin” (Acts 7: 59, 60). Witnessing to Jesus had taught Stephen not only how to live and preach, but how to die with a forgiving spirit. The apostles frequently used the word “new” in their letters when describing the Easter transformation. “So if anyone is in Christ there is a new creation.” (2 Cor 5:17) Paul saw the world differently. He saw equality and unity where others saw disunity and ethnic, racial and religious inferiority and superiority. All became one in Christ, all became heirs of God’s promises and recipients of God’s grace and mercy.

Of course, Paul knew the cost of such witnessing. When he was converted on the road to Damascus he was introduced to Ananias by the Lord as “my chosen instrument” one whom the Lord had to show “how much he must suffer for my name's sake” (Acts 9: 15, 16). We must be witnesses who truly believe darkness cannot overcome light, and not even death can separate us from the love of God. We must believe that we are victors when we choose to stand for what Jesus stood for and was crucified for. Archbishop Romero of El Salvador was killed in 1980 as he was saying Mass. He opposed the military and the Government for their violence and injustice. The sacrifice of his life brought new hope and new vision to many. Sin must lose its strong power over us. We must rise to newness of life that is, a new life in the resurrected Christ. Easter must never end.