“On your own path you make work every step you take that’s why it’s your path.”        Joseph Campbell

When Jesus came too late to save her brother Lazarus from death, Martha complained, “Lord if you were here my brother would not have died.”  Jesus answered her, “I am the resurrection and the life.  Whoever believes in me will never die.”

When we hear these words of Jesus, we usually hear clearly the first part of Jesus' response – “I am the resurrection …” but the last part – “and the life” – usually gets lost in that astonishing miracle of Lazarus regaining his life.  But these ending words “and the life” have significance for all believers.

Why? Because these words come as a “total package.”  Surely, we will rise from the dead at end times, but we first must prepare ourselves by sharing Jesus’ life while living our lives, if we want this to happen.

When Jesus walked away from His tomb, raised and refreshed on Easter morning we all received a second chance.  This gift of our redemption freed us from our sins, and truly placed before us the opportunity to be “born again.”  When we are baptized in Jesus’ name, we are released from the darkness of our sins, and we see clearly the glory of our individual gifts!

Guided by this saving light, everyone can live the life Jesus desires by using our gifts to build His kingdom.  When we choose to do this, we can make a huge impact on our created world casting that same brilliance that the light of Easter morning left for all to share at the empty tomb.

How? Every time we help our neighbors, no matter who they are or where they are, we cast that same light as we build God’s kingdom. This light shines forth when we lend a hand to others who can’t help themselves or when we put our life on hold and offer our time to others who don’t know what to do, and we do.  Again, it is in these simple actions that we cast Easter morn’s light for all to see.

Any goodness given for friend or stranger, is serving Christ himself: “When you give even a cup of water, to the least of my children, you do it for me." 

Imagine, something that easy serves Christ, spreads Easter's light, and builds His kingdom simply by living the life Jesus came to offer us.  When we choose to do this and live it to the fullest, we eventually gain His resurrection: the total package of our salvation.

“We need men and women who can dream of things that never were and ask why not!” John F. Kennedy