The Octave of Easter

The celebration of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead is so important that the Church dedicates eight days of recognition. What that means is that the seven days following Easter Sunday are observed with the same solemnity as on Sunday.

On Sunday, our reflections focused on the monumental act of Jesus destroying death and rising from the dead, leaving the tomb empty. St. Paul so vividly recalls this new reality. “Death is swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”

It is fitting during the octave that we reflect upon the Resurrection from the dead, along with the effects of the glorious victory over death. Undoubtedly, Jesus’ Resurrection affects our future, with the hope that, as Jesus was raised, we who are intimately connected with him will also rise and live eternally with him. 

Beyond the promise of the future, there are miraculous events offered in the here and now. To understand the present grace offered by Jesus, it is important to reexamine the significance of his crucifixion.

The symbolism around the death of Jesus is not happenstance; it is the Divine Providence of God’s plan of salvation. Jesus has perfected the Old Covenant between God and man in the New Covenant, where the separation from God no longer exists.  

One of the best descriptions comes from St. John Chrysostom’s catechesis on the power of Christ’s blood. In ancient times, Moses was commanded by God to sacrifice an unblemished lamb and to sprinkle the blood of this animal on the doorposts of the people of God. Once the sign was visible, the angel passed over their homes, and they were saved from death. The blood of the sacrificed and unblemished lamb prefigured the Lamb of God who takes away the sins (and its resulting death) of his people. If the devil were not able to destroy the people of Giod through animal blood, how much more would the power of death be deterred from the blood of God?

St. John Chrysostom further explains that if one needs more proof from the shedding of Jesus’ blood, one must consider the events around His crucifixion seriously. The Gospel records that when Jesus was dead on the cross, a soldier guarding him to make sure he was dead, pierced his side.  Immediately, blood and water flowed. This was to fulfill the prophecy that not one of his bones would be broken.

The spear that lanced Christ’s side was the opening of the wall of the sacred temple. In clearer terms, the temple of Jesus’ body was opened, signifying heaven was opened to man. From that gash flowed water and blood. The holy water from His side was sanctified, the water to be used for the baptism of His people. The blood poured out was the blood and body believers will receive in the Holy Eucharist. From that moment on, the Church was born, and generation after generation, the act of salvation will be made present in the sacraments.

It was appropriate in the New Covenant that a new birth came from the side of Christ because at the beginning of time, Eve was fashioned from the side of Adam. Just as the creation of Eve, so too was the creation of the Church from the side of Christ on the cross. 

God took the rib of Adam while he was in deep sleep, and the Church was created not by a deep sleep but through the death of the Savior. Through baptism, humanity is brought into spiritual existence. Christians of His Church become the bride of Christ, who is their bridegroom. Through his body and blood in the Eucharist, we are nourished during our mortal lives.

Analogously, as a mother nourishes her child with her own blood and milk, Jesus’ gift of himself nourishes his people with his own blood for all time.

The Resurrection of Jesus from the dead is important not only for our future lives but also for our present lives.