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 then answered, “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 a 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 have to 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 morn, 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 is able to live “the life” Jesus desires by using our gifts to build His kingdom.  When we choose to do this, we are able to 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?  Very simply--every time we help neighbors-all 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 even though we are in a hurry, or, whenever 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 we 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-and the total package of our salvation.