FAITH MATTERS
On Easter Sunday, Jesus kept his promise
Let us take great comfort in knowing Jesus is always faithful to His vows and His word is His bond.
By
Bishop Gerard Bergie Contributing Columnist
Saturday, March 30, 2024
I am sure many are familiar with the phrase, “my word is my bond.” It simply means this person will always keep a promise. This seems a rarity these days.
Many promises are made each day with little sincerity or effort to fulfil what is being promised. It can be extremely discouraging and painful when someone does not keep his or her word.
As Christian believers, we are truly blessed because we have a God who always keeps promises.
In the Gospel of St. Matthew, Jesus makes the following promise to his disciples, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death; then they will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified; and on the third day he will be raised.” (Matthew 20:18-19)
Jesus states clearly that, although he will die, on the third day he will rise from the dead. On Easter Sunday he fulfilled this promise.
In this passage, Jesus also states that there can be no resurrection without his suffering and death. The passion leads to paradise and the trials of this life are overshadowed by the joys of eternal life.
In another passage of scripture from the Gospel of John, Jesus states, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:1-3)
Jesus not only promised that he would rise from the dead, but he also tells us that we will share the same experience with him.
He will lead us to his Father’s house if we take his hand and follow him. At the end of life, we will be ‘brought home’ so there is no need to be troubled or afraid.
The Father’s house is such a consoling image regarding the reality of death and dying. To know we will have a special room in God’s dwelling place offers us great hope when faced with these mysterious realities.
The fulfillment of the promises of God also helps us in other ways, especially in dealing with the weaknesses of others.
In a world where we are bombarded with so many insincere words and empty promises, we can feel overwhelmed and confused. When this happens, we can give into cynicism.
This can be overcome if we look to Jesus. Even though others may let us down, he will always remain faithful. This fact helps to turn discouragement to encouragement as we reflect upon the goodness of God.
We model goodness by becoming more sincere in our words and actions. We try to have honest conversations where we ‘say what we mean and mean what we say’.
To follow through with our promises is so important, especially when it seems so easy to do the opposite.
Easter is always celebrated in the spring. It is a time of great promise as things return to life after a long winter slumber. There are signs of new life all around us.
May the death and resurrection of Jesus continue to be a source of hope for us all. Let us take great comfort in knowing that Jesus is always faithful to his promises and that his word is his bond!