Jesus' Resurrection and New Life

• Jesus's resurrection makes new, eternal life possible.
• Easter lilies symbolize Jesus's resurrection, growing in spring, shaped like trumpets, colored white and gold, and emerging anew from the ground.
• Lilies mirror Jesus's burial and resurrection, reflecting the mystery: "Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit" (Jn 12:24).
• The paschal mystery of Jesus's death and resurrection forms the core of the faith.
• Jesus's resurrection validates his claims, affirming his identity as the Son of God and the possibility of sharing in divine life.
• The Shroud of Turin has markings of a crucified man and is believed to be Jesus's burial shroud.
• Before His resurrection, Jesus freed the faithful in the place of the dead, like Abraham and Moses.

Jesus's New Life

• No one witnessed the actual moment of resurrection.
• Witnesses found burial clothes in the empty tomb.
• People saw the resurrected Jesus.
• Jesus's resurrection differs from Lazarus and the daughter of Jairus, who later died again, while Jesus rose to a new, eternal life.
• Jesus's glorified body retained the wounds of his death.

The Discovery

• Gospels recount women going to the tomb to anoint Jesus's body discovering the resurrection.
• The women found the stone rolled away.
• Angels announced Jesus's resurrection and instructed them to tell the apostles.
• Jesus appeared to the women and instructed them to inform the apostles.
• Initially disbelieving, Peter and John went to the tomb and confirmed it was empty.
• In John's Gospel, Mary Magdalene discovers the empty tomb alone.
• Mary Magdalene initially mistook Jesus for the gardener.
• Jesus revealed himself to Mary Magdalene.
• Jesus sent Mary Magdalene to share the good news with the apostles.

Appearance to the Apostles

• Apostles hid on Easter night, fearing capture.
• Jesus appeared in the locked room, greeting them with "Peace be with you."
• The apostles mistook Him for a ghost and were terrified.
• Jesus showed the apostles his wounds and ate to prove he was alive.
• Jesus breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit," giving them power to forgive sins.
• Thomas doubted the resurrection until Jesus returned and allowed him to touch his wounds.
• Jesus appeared to seven apostles fishing, helped them catch fish, and cooked them breakfast.
• The apostles' witness to the risen Jesus forms the foundation of the faith.

Other Appearances

• Jesus joined two disciples walking to Emmaus, who were unaware of his identity.
• Jesus explained the Scriptures to the disciples and joined them for dinner.
• The disciples recognized Jesus when he broke bread, after which he disappeared.
• The disciples returned to Jerusalem to inform the apostles.
• The apostles reported that Jesus had also appeared to Peter.
• St. Paul wrote that the risen Jesus appeared to over 500 people at once.

St. Stephen

• The Holy Spirit guided the apostles to appoint seven deacons, including Stephen.
• Stephen performed miracles and preached in Jesus's name.
• Stephen was accused of speaking against God and Moses.
• Stephen had a vision of God's glory and Jesus at God's right hand during his trial.
• Stephen was stoned outside the city.
• Before dying, Stephen asked Jesus to receive his spirit and to not hold the sin against his attackers.

The Ascension

• After forty days, Jesus commissioned the apostles to spread the Good News.
• Jesus ascended to his Father in Heaven and sits in glory at His right hand.
• Jesus's kingdom has begun.
• Jesus intercedes for the Church.
• "Alleluia" means "Praise the Lord" in Hebrew.
• Christians should embody "alleluia".
• Jesus continues to live and act through believers today.
• Jesus will return in triumph to judge all people and fully establish God's kingdom.

St. Paul's Conversion

• Saul was a first-century Jew who persecuted Jesus's followers.
• On the way to Damascus, a light surrounded Saul, and he heard Jesus asking why he was being persecuted.
• Jesus instructed Saul to go to Damascus for further instructions.
• Ananias was sent to cure Saul's blindness and prophesied that he would be God's witness.
• Saul is known by his Roman name, Paul.