Benedict reflects on the "certainty and joy of Christ's resurrection"

From the Vatican Information Service:

CHRIST GIVES US THE CERTAINTY OF OUR OWN RESURRECTION

VATICAN CITY, 26 MAR 2008 (VIS) - Today in St. Peter's Square, more than 30,000 people participated in the weekly general audience. The Pope, who arrived at the Vatican by helicopter from his Castelgandolfo residence, dedicated his catechesis to the period of Easter.

  "The entire liturgy of the Easter period proclaims the certainty and joy of Christ's resurrection", he said. This is "the central truth of Christian faith in all its doctrinal richness and its inexhaustible vitality".

  Christ's Easter, he went on, "is also our Easter because in the risen Christ we are given the certainty of our final resurrection. ... The death of the Lord shows the immense love with which He loved us, even to the point of sacrificing Himself for us. But only His resurrection is 'certain proof' ... that what He says is true".

  "It is important to reiterate this fundamental truth of our faith", explained the Holy Father, "the historical truth of which is amply documented, even if today as in the past there is no lack of people who put it in doubt or even deny it. The weakening of faith in the resurrection of Jesus leads to the weakening of the testimony of believers. ... Whereas adhesion to Christ, dead and risen, changes lives and illuminates the entire life of individuals and peoples".

  "The liturgy invites us - and especially in this octave of Easter - to encounter the Risen One personally and to recognise His life-giving action in the events of history and in our daily lives".

  As with the disciples of Emmaus who figure in today's Gospel, "the Lord is walking with us and he explains the Scripture to us. He brings us to understand this mystery in which everything speaks of Him. This should make our hearts burn so that our eyes may also be opened. The Lord is with us, He shows us the true path".

  The disciples of Emmaus recognised Christ "as He broke the bread. ... We too", the Holy Father concluded, "can meet and know Jesus Christ in the celebration of the Eucharist, ... on the double altar of the announced Word and the consecrated Bread and Wine. Each Sunday the community relives the Lord's Easter and draws from the Saviour its witness of love and fraternal service".

The Resurrection of Christ, of course, has been scrutinized and criticized in every which way, with skeptics claiming, among other things, that it is a lie, a hoax, a cover-up, or even a mass hallucination. There is a wealth of apologetic and scholarly works carefully and thoroughly refuting those claims. But for an accessible, engaging introduction and overview, I recommend the recently-released DVD, Did Jesus Really Rise From the Dead?, produced by Ignatius Press and Ignatius Productions. It covers a lot of territory, it does so in a way that everyone can understand and appreciate, and it features some very fine Catholic and Evangelical Scripture scholars, including Dr. Ed Sri, Dr. Tim Grey, Dr. Craig Evans, Dr. Craig Blomberg, and Dr. Ben Witherington III, among others. Here is a clip from the opening of the DVD:

                        

Watch other clips here and here.

Comments

[john]

Carl, I asked this about another Ignatius DVD and never received a response, so I'll try again. I bought this excellent DVD and I wish to show it to whomever in my parish wishes to watch it on a screen and projector in the church hall. I hope to get 10 to 30 people after a Saturday vigil Mass during Easter season. I would show it more than once if the demand was great enough. My question: is this currently permissible to do or must I do something in addition to purchasing the DVD to show it to my parish (get permission, obtain a viewing license as we did for TPOTC), or is it soley for private use and thus I can't under any circumstances show it to my parish?

Any help here would be appeciated. Thanks so much.

[Carl Olson]

Hi, John: Sorry for missing your inquiry before. I don't have a good answer for you, so will forward your question to those who should. Thanks!

[Carl Olson]

Hi, John: I cannot find your e-mail, so will have to hope you check back here. The person who can answer your questions and offer suggestions about showing Ignatius Press DVDs to groups is Diane Hanson, Special Projects Coordinator for Ignatius Press. You can reach her at:

Toll Free: 866-431-1531 ext 5
Direct: 734-455-1973
dhanson@ignatius.com
www.ignatius.com
www.ipmovienights.com

I forwarded your questions to her and she's looking forward to hearing from you and anyone else with similar questions.

[john]

Carl, much obliged for the info. I will give her a call.