Saints LightIs Jesus Alive?
On Easter Sunday Jesus truly rose from the dead, showing that His love is stronger than sin and death.
Jesus' body was laid in a tomb cut into rock, and a big stone was rolled across the door. His friends were very sad. But early on Sunday morning, some women who loved Jesus went to the tomb, and the stone had been rolled away!
An angel told them: Do not be afraid. He is not here, for he has risen! Jesus had truly come back to life. Not as a ghost, and not just in people's memories, but really, with His own body, now full of glory and never to die again (CCC 638-639).
Over the next forty days, Jesus appeared to His friends many times. He ate fish with them, let Thomas touch His wounds and walked with two disciples on a road. More than five hundred people saw Him. The Apostles were so sure that they spent the rest of their lives telling everyone (CCC 639).
The Resurrection is the most important truth of our faith. It shows that Jesus is who He said He is, and that His love is stronger than sin and stronger than death (CCC 651). By dying, Jesus frees us from sin; by rising, He opens the way to new life (CCC 654).
That is why Easter is the happiest feast of the year, and why every Sunday is a little Easter. Because Jesus is alive, you can talk to Him today. And one day He will raise us up too, to live with Him forever.
Key points
- Jesus truly rose from the dead on Easter Sunday.
- The Resurrection is the most important truth of our faith.
- Because Jesus lives, we can live with Him forever.
The Word of God
He is not here, for he has risen, just like he said.
I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies.
Catechism paragraphs for this lesson
- CCC 638-639
- CCC 651
- CCC 654
CCC means the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Saints Light teaches it in its own words and never quotes it. Look up any paragraph in a printed copy or at vatican.va. See every lesson by paragraph in the Catechism index.
Live it this week
Greet your family this Sunday with: Jesus is risen! Teach them to answer: He is risen indeed! Then do something joyful together, like a special breakfast, to celebrate a little Easter.
Check yourself: three questions
1. What did the women find at the tomb?
- Jesus sleeping
- Soldiers eating lunch
- The stone rolled away and the tomb empty
- A locked door
Show the answer
The stone rolled away and the tomb empty. The stone was rolled away, and the angel said: He is not here, for he has risen.
2. How did Jesus rise?
- Really, with His own body, full of glory
- Only as a ghost
- Only in people's memories
- He only pretended
Show the answer
Really, with His own body, full of glory. Jesus rose with His real body. He even ate with His friends.
3. Why is every Sunday special?
- It is the start of the school week
- It is the longest day
- It is the day for chores
- It is a little Easter, the day Jesus rose
Show the answer
It is a little Easter, the day Jesus rose. Jesus rose on a Sunday, so every Sunday celebrates the Resurrection.
Words to know
- Resurrection
- Jesus rising from the dead with His own body, glorious and never to die again.
More terms in the Catholic glossary. More passages in the Scripture index.
For catechists: a one hour class plan
Goal. The children will know that Jesus truly rose from the dead and is alive today, and will celebrate Sunday as a little Easter.
Opener. Ask: "What is the best surprise you have ever had?" Let a few share. Then: "The women who went to Jesus' tomb got the biggest surprise in history."
Discussion questions
- How do you think the women felt when they saw the empty tomb? [Scared, confused, then full of joy.]
- How do we know Jesus really rose and was not a ghost? [He ate with them, they touched Him, and hundreds saw Him.]
- Why is the Resurrection so important? [It proves Jesus is God, and that His love beats sin and death.]
- How can your family celebrate every Sunday as a little Easter? [Mass together, a special meal, a family walk, a call to grandparents.]
Activity. Empty egg surprise: give each child a plastic egg or a small closed paper bag. Let them open it: it is empty, just like the tomb! Then make a paper tomb with a round stone attached by a paper fastener so it rolls away, and write "He is risen!" inside. Practice the Easter greeting, loud and joyful.
Closing prayer. Jesus, You are alive! Thank You for rising from the dead and for opening the way to heaven. Fill us with Easter joy every Sunday and every day. Alleluia! Amen.
Timing. Welcome and Sign of the Cross 5 min, surprise opener 5 min, read the lesson aloud 10 min, discussion 10 min, empty egg and paper tomb 15 min, memory verse 5 min, quiz together 5 min, closing prayer 5 min.
Related lessons
- He descended into hell; on the third day He rose again from the dead (The Creed, free)
- The Cross and Resurrection: How We Are Saved (Start Here, free)
- Did Jesus Really Rise from the Dead? (Hard Questions)
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