“Why do you seek the living one among the dead? He is not here, but he has been raised.” (Lk 24:5-6)

The holy women who went to anoint the body of Jesus on the third day after his death found the stone rolled away and the tomb empty. Jesus’ body was not there. Two men in dazzling white garments (angels in fact) were standing by and announced the stunning news: Jesus has been raised from the dead. He is truly risen as he said. He is the first born from the dead.

Easter morning marks the fullness of time; the dawning of the new age, the era of the New Covenant. The suffering Messiah is the victorious savior of the world who has obtained the forgiveness of sins and a new life of grace for us all.

The pro-life movement affirms that every life is a gift from God which must be loved and embraced. Each of us is called to protect the innocent unborn and the fragile, sick and aged among us. They especially deserve to be treated as cherished members of the human family.

Just about every pro-life advocate I have ever met was motivated by religious faith to get involved in the fight against the culture of death. Those who believe in God know that He will hold us to account for how we, as a society, treat our brothers and sisters. Jesus said: “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brethren of mine, you did for me.” (Mt 25:40)

The Resurrection is God’s triumph over sin and death. The brutal execution of Jesus was not the final judgment, but rather the condemnation of death itself. Jesus lives. Death does not triumph over God’s gift of life in Christ. And those who are joined to Christ share in that victory.

Abortion and euthanasia are manifestations of the horrific diabolical temptation to try to reverse what God has done in creating man and entrusting the world to him. We are meant to be fertile and multiply, to flourish and subdue the earth to serve God’s purposes. We are commanded to love our neighbor, especially the weak, the poor, and the sick. We are meant to be each other’s servants.

The recourse to killing in order to “solve problems” is a constant temptation to fallen mankind. The mission of pro-life people is to proclaim fearlessly that this is a deadly falsehood propagated by the one who is “a murderer from the beginning . . . he is a liar and the father of lies.” (Jn 8:44) The Devil’s schemes wreak havoc on the innocent, but Jesus has put him in his place (Hell) and calls us to take up battle against evil, knowing that we are doing what is right and just.

The first words of Christ to the apostles hiding behind closed doors on Easter evening were “Peace be with you.” (Jn 20:19) May we know that peace this Easter season as we too welcome the Risen Lord into our hearts. The peace that comes from doing God’s will is the only cure for what ails our conflict-riddled world.