"Simon Peter went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there... The other disciple also went in. He saw and believed." The Lord is truly risen. Alleluia!

"He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said." Through his passion, death, and resurrection, Jesus defeated the final enemy, death. The gates of heaven are opened wide; the kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ. He will reign forever!

"When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, 'It is finished.' And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit." The disobedience of Adam has been rendered completely powerless through the obedience of Jesus the Christ.

"I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do." Jesus shows that way of discipleship is the way of service.

"He humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." Holy Week begins with the celebration of Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem, followed by the solemn Gospel proclamation of his suffering and death.

"I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" Jesus asked this of Martha. Today, this question is directed to our RCIA candidates, and to the whole Christian community.

"Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, 'Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?' She replied, 'No one, sir.' Then Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin any more.'" We take comfort in the merciful care of Jesus. He sees our sin; he raises us up, and he invites us to sin no more.

"While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." As our RCIA candidates approach the Easter sacraments, Jesus helps them to see the light and gives them strength to handle adversity and rejection.

"But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found." On Laetare Sunday, we rejoice because of the lavish love that has been given to us through the Father's mercy and the forgiveness of our sins.

"'If you knew the gift of God and who is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." As our RCIA candidates await their baptism, let us pray for them and recall how our own baptism calls us to give witness to Christ as the Savior of the world.