Homily for Easter Sunday

                                  “For Our Sake”

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Homily for Easter Sunday

Church of St. Bridget of Minneapolis, MN

Sunday, April 5, 2026

In the Nicene Creed, we recite, “For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered, died, and was buried. On the third day, he rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures.” These words represent the very heart of what we believe. The CCC 571 states that “The Paschal mystery of Christ’s cross and Resurrection stands at the center of the Good News that the apostles, and the Church following them, are to proclaim to the world. God’s saving plan was accomplished ‘once for all’ by the redemptive death of his Son, Jesus Christ.”

In the course of his public ministry, Jesus did many great things: powerful and amazing preaching, astonishing miracles. He touched many lives with tenderness, respect, mercy, and dignity. But the preaching of the Apostles is that Jesus died on the cross and is now risen to die no more. The first books to be written were the letters of St. Paul. And they are littered with the proclamation of Jesus’ death and resurrection, and how those two acts changed everything. The writing of the Gospels came later on to fill out the whole story of Jesus’ life. The Acts of the Apostles also have numerous accounts of the Apostles preaching about the death and resurrection of Jesus. 

But today, I want us to focus on these three words from the Nicene Creed, “For our sake…” It is for our sake that he was crucified and died. It was not a public display of power. It is part of God's kenosis. It is part of God’s self-emptying love. God’s love knows no end and no bounds. It is all for us. Here are the three points: Jesus truly died. He was buried for three days. He didn’t just escape death; he was really dead and was buried. And he did this for us. Second point, Jesus lives today. He is not just a memory or an inspirational figure from the past. He is alive. He is alive today to help us in this life. He wants to relate to us and to be part of our lives. Some of the things that you hear some people say about Jesus are that he is not real. He is simply a figment of imagination from ancient thought. Some say he is a nice guy, a good story, maybe even a historical figure. Another deeply tragic thing some in our culture say about Jesus is that he is their imaginary friend. Some say Jesus is a creature of our own making. Jesus is who I want him to be. He speaks when I want him to speak and stays quiet when I want him to be quiet. These notions of Jesus are wrong. Jesus is not an imaginary friend, nor is he a figure from the past. He is alive, and he wants to be part of your life and mine. This is great news, and it is all for us, for our sake. 

The third point is that we shall live forever. The great St. Paul says, “Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were indeed buried with him through baptism into his death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life.” Again, it is for our sake. Again, he writes, “Now if Christ is preached as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, and your faith is in vain. If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are the most pitiable of men.” There we have it, we shall live forever. It is the big news. It is the greatest of all hopes. I tell you, this reality has to inform and determine how I live my life and the decisions I make. There is much more than what we see, hear, and experience in this world. Another great point is that our loved ones shall live forever. When we speak of communion of saints, we think of great people who are mentioned in the canon of the saints. But we believe that our loved ones have the possibility of a new life. This is why I always urge you to pray for your loved ones, offer Masses for them, and sit before the Blessed Sacrament. 

Sisters and brothers, life is worth living just because he lives. Jesus lives. For our sake, Jesus is risen. Alleluia. 

God bless you!