"In and through Jesus we come to know God as a powerless God, who becomes dependent on us. But it is precisely in this powerlessness that God’s power reveals itself. This is not the power that controls, dictates, and commands. It is the power that heals, reconciles, and unites. It is the power of the Spirit. When Jesus appeared people wanted to be close to him and touch him because “power came out of him” (Luke 6:19).

It is this power of the divine Spirit that Jesus wants to give us. The Spirit indeed empowers us and allows us to be healing presences. When we are filled with that Spirit, we cannot be other than healers." Henri Nouwen

The coming of the Spirit upon Jesus, the coming of the Spirit upon us is not an after thought. It is part of the revealed plan of God that all of us be baptized in the Holy Spirit, be filled with the Holy Spirit. He comes not only to sanctify us, which we need, but also to anoint and empower us for the proclamation of the Good News of our Salvation through Jesus. He comes to heal and restore us so that in turn we may be instrument of healing for others, both spiritual and physical.  Pray for the release of that gift in a fresh new way.

 "Breath in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy. Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy. Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy. Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy."  - St. Augustine 

We called him the Holy Spirit because one of his essential works in those who have been baptized is to sanctify them, to make them and keep them holy. When we were baptized, we became the adopted sons and daughters of God. God's own divine life pulsated within us. Throughout our lives, the Spirit sustains us in this life of God in different ways. He is working within us now, sustaining us in God's life. Just as we may not be conscious of the maintenance of our human life, we may not be conscious of the continuation of our shared life with God. It is the Holy  Spirit who accomplishes this in us. Give thanks to the Spirit for his personal care of us!  Do nothing to grieve the Holy Spirit, so that the life of God may remain in us. The above prayer may help to keep us attentive.

Homily Fourth Sunday of Easter Year A

Reading 1: A central mystery of our faith is that Jesus, who was crucified, has risen and he is both Lord and Christ. Calling him Lord, Peter acknowledges that Jesus is true God and true Man. Calling him Christ, Peter proclaims that Jesus is the promised Messiah.

When the people heard this proclamation, their hearts were moved by the Holy Spirit to seek guidance as to their response. What Peter tells them is what he and the other ten disciples did during the ten days following Jesus’ Ascension. They repented of their own sins. They acknowledge Jesus as their Lord and Savior and they waited for the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Basically, what Peter taught is what we believe. Faith in Jesus and repentance brings the forgiveness of sins, new life and the gift of the Holy Spirit.

As we prepare for the Solemnity of Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit, we too can receive a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Repentance of our sins, renewed commitment of our lives to the Lordship of Jesus and an expectation of a fresh infilling of the Spirit are the steps that are needed. If that happened to the three thousand hearers, can it not happen to us today?

Gospel: Jesus is our true Shepherd. His own knows his voice and follow him as he leads them. He alone gives us life abundantly. This truth of the Gospel is still valid in spite of the circumstances of life.

The Church at different times in its 2000 years of history has gone through many crises and times of darkness and trials. These were times of purification for the Church. And the Church emerged stronger each time. Why? Jesus is the Lord and the Christ. Jesus forgives sins, when repentance is present. Jesus is the Shepherd and guide of our souls. He is still in charge. He has sent the Holy Spirit to be with the Church until the end of time. The gates of hell shall not prevail.

Whom do we follow? Is Jesus the Lord and Messiah in fact of our lives? Are we in tune with his grace and the sound of his voice? Do we follow the lead of the Spirit so that we may know when Jesus is speaking to us and when something or someone other than Jesus is drawing us away? How do we know? Do we take time to listen? Do we recommit our lives every day? Do we vigorously try to avoid sin? Do we act on the inner voice of God within us?

Reading 2: Jesus is acknowledged as one who suffered, took upon himself our sins and through his suffering and death freed us from sin. As a result, he brought us into a life of righteousness. We have been healed. For all he has done, we, in turn, acknowledge and submit to him as the shepherd and guide of our souls.

We too suffer. But how do we embrace our suffering? Do we share our suffering with that of Jesus? To do so, gives meaning and purpose to our suffering. This is what Paul means when he says: “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking^* in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church” (Colossians 1:24). But not to do so, renders our sufferings, in a sense, useless.

Either we enter into and embrace the mystery of Jesus as Lord, Messiah, Shepherd and guide or we remain isolated in our own world. The choice is ours.

 Have we ever resisted the move of the Holy Spirit? Have we ever felt like Peter as he experienced the transfigured glory of Jesus on Mt. Tabor? Have we ever felt: "Lord, it is good to be here. Let us stay in this moment of joy"? With the Spirit there is no standing still. He urges us on to the next moment where we will experience the plan of God. As Jesus urged Peter to go down the mountain high to the cross and resurrection, so the Spirit urges us to the next cross and resurrection in our life. It is doing the will of God in the moment that we will in time see the plan of God in our life. This is the role of the Spirit, not to allow complacency or inertia to prevent us from doing the will of God in this moment of our life. He tells us "There is more."

 Fourth Sunday of Easter Gospel  A

“Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber. But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.”

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In the Old Testament, God is described as a Shepherd and the people were the sheep of his flock. (Ps 23)  Later on Exzekiel the Prophet likened God to a Shepherd who was displeased with those who were not shepherding his people but using them for their benefit. God revealed that he would remove the wicked shepherds and pasture his people himself. (Ez 34) This happens through the person of Jesus, who here likens himself to the Good Shepherd who will properly care for the flock of God.

· God knows us by name and calls us to follow him. Does that truth make us feel special? Spend some time reflecting on this revelation.

 “When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice. But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers." 

· It is a known fact that sheep are able to distinguish between the voice of the Shepherd and that of a stranger Do we know how to distinguish the voice of God from that of another? 

Although Jesus used this figure of speech, they did not realize what he was trying to tell them. 

· Shepherding was a common occupation in Palestine at the time. Even so, the people hearing Jesus could not easily connect to the message he was giving them. Why?

So Jesus said again, "Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came [before me] are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.  A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly. 

· Jesus changes the metaphor with the intention of making clearer his message. He equates himself to the gate.  When the Shepherd takes his sheep to pasture, spending nights with them away from their normal, secure enclosure, he would sleep in front of the enclosure to block it from any intruders. He is ready to defend his sheep with his life if necessary.

· “I came that they may have life and have it more abundantly.” There is no salvation outside of Jesus Christ. In him is the fullness of life. What does that say to you?

· If I want to experience this abundant life, what would Jesus want me to do? Do I manifest this abundant life in my words and actions?

· What in this reading touched your life in a very special way? How have I experienced Jesus personally speaking to me and caring for me? How have I responded?

 “When we pray, it is because the Holy Spirit inspires prayer in our heart. When we break the cycle of our self-centerdness, and move beyond ourselves and go out to encounter others, to listen to them and help them, it is the Spirit of God who impels us to do so. When we find within a hitherto unknown ability to forgive, to love someone who doesn’t love us in return, it is the Spirit who has taken hold of us. When we move beyond mere self-serving words and turn to our brothers and sisters with that tenderness which warms the heart, we have indeed been touched by the Holy Spirit.” Pope Francis

The move of the Spirit within us is like the wind. We hear its sound but do not know where it comes from or goes. So it is with the Holy Spirit. Like a gentle breeze he comes and goes. The more we are attuned to his movement, the more we are able to respond to the grace of the moment he gives us. It is good for us to pray regularly, "Come, Holy Spirit, come", so that our hearts are open to his workings within us. Sometimes it is in hindsight that we realize the move of the Spirit. But it was our openness to his workings that enable him to work through us. The Spirit worked wonders through the various saints of the past not because they were saints, but because they were open.

 "The difficulties of life do not have to be unbearable. It is the way we look at them - through faith or unbelief - that makes them seem so. We must be convinced that our Father is full of love for us and that He only permits trials to come our way for our own good.”

How often one's attitude can make the difference in how a situation in life impacts us! I can see the same situation with the eyes of faith and love or I can see it with eyes of question and despair. The situation doesn't change. How I deal with it will determine its positive or negative effect in my life. The two thieves crucified with Jesus had different outcomes. One cried out in hope; the other in despair. One heard the words , which made a difference: "Today, you will be with me in paradise." The other heard nothing but the echo of his own despair.

 "We cannot force God into a relationship. God comes to us on his own initiative, and no discipline, effort, or ascetic practice can make him come. All mystics stress with an impressive unanimity that prayer is “grace”— that is, a free gift from God, to which we can only respond with gratitude. But they hasten to add that this precious gift indeed is within our reach. In Jesus Christ, God has entered into our lives in the most intimate way, so that we could enter into his life through the Spirit" Henri Nouwen

God's grace is there, inviting us to pray. But there are times we do not respond to that grace, because other things are deemed more important. We fail to remember the command of God: You shall have no strange gods before me. I alone am God. When we don't make time to respond to the grace of God to spend time with him, isn't that a form of idolatry? We are making something more important to us than our relationship with God. To place something or someone before God is making that person or thing an idol, which I give my time and energy to, rather than to the one who created me. Put first things first.

Homily: Third Sunday of Easter Year A

Reading 1: What is the context of this reading? Pentecost has occurred. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter preaches his first sermon. The focus is Jesus Christ. Who is he? He was a man sent by God in the power of the Holy Spirit with signs and wonders as his credentials. Jesus revealed God’s plan of salvation and life. But the people rejected him and had him crucified.

But the good news is Jesus is risen and exalted at the right hand of the Father. He promised to pour out his Holy Spirit to continue the world of God. Peter proclaims that he the others are witnesses of his signs, teachings, his death, his risen life, his ascension and the coming of the Spirit. The culmination of Peter’s first sermon was proclaiming Jesus as both Lord and Messiah.

As a result of Peter’s compelling words, something happened in the hearers. His message was simple and straightforward. But it spoke the truth into the hearts of those who saw the power of the Holy Spirit and this truth set them free. They wanted to experience what made a difference in the lives of the Apostles. When asked what they must do, Peter answered with a simple process: repent of your sins, believe in Jesus and receive the baptism that will set you free, and desire the gift of the Spirit in your lives. Three thousand responded immediately. They encountered the risen Lord and the Holy Spirit in the proclamation of Peter.

Gospel: Encountering the risen Lord was essential to the Easter message. But this encounter must be open to Jesus in the present moment. The two disciples were still living with their encounter with Jesus prior to his death. Like them, how many of us find ourselves disappointed or disillusion because our encounter with Jesus is based on a past experience, not the present reality.

For them to have a new encounter Jesus breaks open the word of God, showing how the Son of Man was to suffer, die and rise again. They encountered the present Jesus in the Scriptures. “Were not our hearts burning within us as he explained the scriptures?” But the scriptures were not enough alone. It was in the breaking of the bread that their eyes of faith were opened to the present reality of Jesus, the risen Savior. This new encounter compelled them to go back to Jerusalem with new joy and conviction to witness their recent experience to the Eleven.

Is our life based on a past encounter or is it open with anticipation to a new, present encounter with Jesus? Today, did we hear the scriptures with an indifferent attitude even a distracted one, or did we come with expectation to encounter the Lord, as he is present to us in a fresh new way in his word? Will our eyes of faith be opened to the presence of the Lord in the breaking of the bread? When we leave, will we witness what we experienced to others?

If not, why not? Is it because we were not expecting or rather we are still living on a past encounter, like trying to survive on bread and water, when there is a sumptuous banquet ready for us?

Reading 2: Paul reminds us of the central message of Jesus. We have been ransomed from our life of sin by the precious blood of Christ, who as an innocent Lamb, was sacrificed on the cross for our sakes. He was raised from the dead and is forever glorified. Because of him and what he did, we believe and hope in God.

But this is not enough. We must conduct our lives in a way that reflects our acceptance and embracing of the new life God has given us in baptism and confirmation. Because we believe, that faith and hope is to be lived out in deeds. We know that God is an impartial judge, who will judge us accordingly. He knows our heart.

 A certain medieval monk announced he would be preaching next Sunday evening on "The love of God." As the shadows fell and the light ceased to come in through the cathedral windows, the congregation gathered. In the darkness of the altar, the monk lighted a candle and carried it to the crucifix. First of all, he illumined the crown of thorns, next, the two wounded hands, then the marks of the spear wound. In the hush that fell, he blew out the candle and left the chancel. There was nothing else to say.

"God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son" "Greater love has no one than to lay down one's life for his friend." "The love of God is poured forth in our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us." Like the monk no words can adequately expressed the great love God has shown us and still continues to show us each day. It is not God's love that should be called into question. It is our lack of love in response.

 Third Sunday of Easter  Gospel A

Now that very day two of them were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.

· In each of the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus there seems to be a consistent feature, namely the risen Jesus was different and at first he is not recognized. It is only in some external sign or gesture or intonation of voice that confirms in their hearts that it is the same Jesus. Here it will be the breaking of the bread.

· Lk wants to emphasize that Jesus physically rose from the dead and not just spiritually. Thus, his glorified body was somehow unlike his previous human body, but it was truly he.

· “Their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.”  Because of their discouragement they were spiritually blinded to the reality of the risen Jesus. They were thinking of Jesus as he was. The point, which will be made at the end, will be that it takes faith, a gift of new vision, to recognize Jesus as he is, not as he was.

· Is it possible that sometimes we have a hard time seeing Jesus because we are looking for the Jesus of the past and not of the present?

He asked them, "What are you discussing as you walk along?" They stopped, looking downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken place there in these days?" And he replied to them, "What sort of things?" They said to him, "The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him. But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel; and besides all this, it is now the third day since this took place. Some women from our group, however, have astounded us: they were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his body; they came back and reported that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who announced that he was alive. Then some of those with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women had described, but him they did not see." 

· Can you relate to the discouragement and disillusionment of the two disciples, whose hope in Jesus as Messiah was shattered? Have you ever felt like walking away from it all at times?

And he said to them, "Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" 

· Jesus himself predicted several times before the event of his crucifixion that the Son of Man would suffer and die a cruel death. Because the disciples did not want to hear of that, they dismissed the possibility. But there is no sharing in his glory without sharing in his cross. 

Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the scriptures. As they approached the village to which they were going, he gave the impression that he was going on farther. But they urged him, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them. And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning (within us) while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?" 

· Recognizing Jesus in his present state was the confirmation of the word he spoke to them from the scriptures.  The interpretation of the scriptures opened their hearts to see Jesus.

· We hear the scriptures each week at Mass, are our hearts burning within us on hearing the Word of God and its interpretation during the homily?

· They had to invite Jesus to stay with them before they could recognize him. Maybe Jesus is waiting for us to invite him now in a new way into our hearts so that we can have a new experience of the risen Lord.

So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the eleven and those with them who were saying, "The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!" Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread. 

· In what way do I experience the risen Christ in the Scriptures and in the Sacraments? Do we recognize Jesus in the “breaking of the bread?”

· The two disciples experienced the risen Lord and went back to Jerusalem to share their story, to give testimony to the marvelous love of God. Do we do the same each time we experience that same love of God in our lives? Do we witness that marvelous love to others?

· What application do you make in your life after your reflections?

 In today's first reading we read: " The community of believers were of one mind and heart." This is the unity that Jesus prayed for at the Last Supper. It is the ideal which we strive for. It is this unity that makes a difference in any family or community. It doesn't begin with the other, but with me. I must not only desire this unity but I must do what I can to make this unity possible. What is the key to this unity? Love. Where there is true, consistent love between the members, there will be true unity. The source of that love and unity is the Holy Spirit. The instrument used by the Holy Spirit is me and you.  Pray for this love and unity in your family and community. Be an instrument of love and unity.

 An unknown author says that a person who starts a new life (such as in Baptism) similar to that of a newborn infant can follow these Seven Rules that promote good health in babies and can be adapted and be applied to a Christian's spiritual growth. These seven rules are:

1 Daily Food: Reading and reflecting on the Word of God and receiving the Eucharist.

2. Fresh Air: Prayer is the oxygen of the soul.

3 Regular exercise: Put into practice what you learn in God's word.

4. Adequate rest. Rely on God at all times in simple faith.

5 Clean Surroundings. Avoid evil company and whatever will weaken you spiritually.

6 Loving Care. Sharing with a loving community.

7. Periodic Checkups: Regularly examine your spiritual health. 

 On Easter we had the opportunity to renew our baptismal promises. Listen to the words of St. Peter in his First Letter: "You are now saved by a baptismal bath which corresponds to this exactly. This baptism is no removal of physical stain, but the pledge to God of an irreproachable conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ." When we renew our baptismal promises we are pledging to God that we will live a life worthy of the grace of salvation he has given us in Jesus, our Lord and Savior. We have been saved by the death and resurrection of Jesus; we are being saved by living as fully possible the new life given us in the Spirit. This should not only be a yearly renewal, but a daily one, so that we will never forget the mercy of God.

 One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit we receive is that of courage to be frank and bold in the sharing of our faith. We see this in the life of Jesus, who fearlessly proclaimed the Good News of God's love with boldness, in spite of the negative reactions of those who refused to believe. We see this in the life of the Apostles after Pentecost. Previously fearful of the authorities, now in the power of the Holy Spirit, they boldly proclaimed the Risen Christ and the need for repentance. The same has been true throughout the centuries since, Spirit-filled Christians courageously willing to proclaim the Gospel of salvation, at the cost of their possessions and their lives. Hebrews 10:35 urges us: "And so, do not lose your courage, which has a great reward." Remember it is not you who speaks, but the Spirit in you, who gives us the words and the courage. 

Because Jesus has risen from the dead, we are able to live a new life, a share in his own divine life. Without his death and resurrection, we would still be alienated from God because of sin. For us to have a share in this new life, Jesus freely chose to give his life as a ransom for our life. In baptism we experienced this new life; in the Sacrament of Reconciliation we are restored to this life; in the Sacrament of Eucharist we are strengthened and renewed in this life. Sharing in God's divine life at the moment of our death will, by God's mercy and love, enable us to share with God eternally. How precious is this life! How conscious are we of remaining in this life? Nothing should worth more to us than remaining in the life of God at all cost. Thank you, Jesus, for your great love!

 Information: The Seven Last Words of Jesus' talks are now available on YOUTUBE. If you put Bishop Sam Jacobs in search, you should be able to see the various talks. Hope you enjoy them. Blessed Easter!

 In today's Gospel reading Mary Magdalene is told not to focus on the empty tomb but on the Risen Christ. So  she initially clung to his feet, as if to hold him for herself. But she is told that Jesus has revealed that he is risen not just for her. She has a mission. Go tell the Apostles that she has seen him in his resurrected life. What does this say to us? Like Mary we have a tendency to focus on the empty tomb: the sadness, the darkness, the hurt, the pains of life. And when we experience some moment of new hope, we tend to want to keep it for ourselves. But Jesus tells us to go and share with others the hope we have in him, the love he has given us, the freedom that comes from relationship with him. As much as Jesus shows his love to us, he wants us to bearers of the good news to others. That' the divine plan.

 As we celebrate the Octave of Easter, we are given a grace moment to reflect on the event of the Resurrection. In today's Gospel there are two responses to Jesus' resurrection. One was that of the religious leaders. Not wanting to believe that Jesus had risen, they told the guards at the tomb to lie and say his disciples stole his body while they were sleeping. The other response was that of the women who went to the tomb. They encountered the risen Lord and told the disciples that he is risen. We can choose to deny the truth or we can proclaim it boldly. The denial can be as subtle as the way we live or the way we talk. The proclamation can be as simple as wearing a cross visibly or praying before meals in public places and not being ashamed of our faith in the risen Lord.

 HE IS RISEN. WE LIVE

HE GOES BEFORE US.

WE FOLLOW!

HE SENDS US TO WITNESS THIS GOOD NEWS.

WE PROCLAIM: HE IS RISEN!

BLESSED EASTER!

 Information. The final talk on the Seven Last Words of Jesus, "It is finished" is now available on Zoom. If you wish a link to this as well as to the other six talks, please send me your email address. Also, the first two talks are now available on You Tube. Search: Bishop Sam Jacobs Seven Last Words of Jesus. 

 "The cross as suffering and contradiction, as persecution and even death, is a result of faithful commitment to Jesus and his Gospel of the Kingdom. This is the fullest meaning of participation in the paschal mystery because this is the primary form of Jesus' own suffering witness. Although martyrdom is its highest expression, it includes fidelity to the Spirit in times of conflict."

How do we suffer during conflicts and disagreements with others? Do we retaliate or do we, knowing the truth, speak only the truth in love? Jesus not only said to "turn the other cheek", he suffered multiple strikes against him without striking back. Was it a sign of strength or weakness?  He showed us how to overcome evil by doing good, by choosing to love. Embracing the cross of suffering at the hands of others is a contradiction to some and a stumbling block to others. But to those who believe, it is the path to a fuller life with Christ.

 "The cross is the price and path of conversion. Because we are immersed in egoism and the tendency toward sin, the path of conversion to the following of Jesus is a path of repentance for sin and resistance against our own particular form of egoism." Segundo Galilea

For Peter and the disciples, the actuality of the cross was a stumbling block. That the Messiah had to die by crucifixion was incomprehensible to minds without faith. But the thief crucified with Jesus unknowingly received the grace of belief. Though he heard the crowd mockingly deride Jesus as the Son of God, though he saw the sign above Jesus' head decreed by Pilate, "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews", he cried out in repentance, "Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom." The cross was the path of conversion for him; it was the path to eternal  glory.  It is this same grace of faith that allows us to turn away from our sins and believe the Jesus as Lord and Messiah.

  I invite you to participate in the Lenten series on the Last Words of Jesus from the cross that I will give on Apr 4. This week we will reflect on the seventh word from the cross: "It is finished." If you missed the first six and would want to view them, just send me your email address.

 April 4, 2023 6:30pm Central
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 During Holy Week, let us reflect on the mystery of the cross.  "We are limited and vulnerable; illness, frustration, suffering, and death are integral parts of our life." To place this experience in the context of our following of Jesus opens us to a release of spirit within us. In Christian faith, suffering and death do not have the last word, but are ultimately overcome in the mystery of God's mercy which meets us in Christ." Fr. Segundo Galilea

The sufferings of life are part of the human journey. Human suffering of itself seems meaningless. But Jesus's suffering and death on the cross has given meaning and purpose to our human suffering, especially when  it is caused by others. What is that meaning? Suffering is not the end. Suffering united to Christ's is redemptive both for us and for others. The cross ended Jesus' earthly life. The resurrection revealed his glorified life as Lord. So too our suffering united to Christ will open us to shared glorified life with God. "O death, where is your victory?"