St. Paul writes, “Christ has indeed been raised from the dead” (1 Corinthians 15:20). Big word: Indeed!
Paul is stressing that we must not think of Jesus’ resurrection like a happy ending to another epic fable.
The resurrection is not legend. It really happened. Easter is not just a holiday. Easter is history. On time’s
infinite line, Jesus’ resurrection is the punctiliar moment that defines reality for us all. If Christ remained
dead, he is a fraud and failure. But Christ has indeed been raised. So, the reality: Jesus is exactly what he
claimed to be—the Son of God, our Lord and Savior. If Christ remained dead, then the grave is the final,
ugly, rotten end of us all. But Christ has indeed been raised. So, the reality is Jesus’ resurrection proves
that “all will be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22). The reality of the resurrection does not just change
our future, but the way we look at life now.

The greatest theologian of the early church, Augustine, called the season of Easter “a joyful week of
weeks”—seven wonderful weeks, each seven glorious days long. In this glorious season, let us meditate
upon the breath-taking implications of the resurrection reality.