Easter is the season of mystagogical catechesis, that instruction that unpacks the hidden mystery of the experience of the sacraments of initiation received or renewed at Easter. The readings of each Sunday concentrate on some aspect of this mystery. The central theme of this Sunday is newness of life in Christ. This newness is not without its historical context. It burst forth first in the resurrection of Christ, and then through the preaching of the first Christians.
The readings testify that if we die with Christ, we will appear with him in glory; if we cast out the old yeast, we will be fresh dough. And when this wondrous transformation takes place, everything is new; everything is fresh. To what newness are we called? To what must we die in order to rise transformed? What old yeast of corruption must be cast out in order that we might be fresh dough? At Easter we renew our baptismal vows. What is it that we really renounce? Ours is a world of violence, of prejudice, of indifference. Too often we harbour feelings of anger and resentment, of selfishness and disdain. Easter proclaims that Christ has died and has risen; with him we die to all of the wickedness in our lives and in our world, and we set our hearts on higher things, on sincerity and on truth.
© Dianne Bergant CSA, https://www.liturgyhelp.com/calendar/date/2026Apr05/0/RefDiBer