Cornelius, a Gentile military officer, was “…devout and God-fearing along with his whole household.” The Book of Acts recalls that he “… used to give alms generously to the Jewish people and pray to God constantly.” So the chances are this soldier had already come into contact with Christian preachers in Caesarea who were teaching and explaining the recent ministry of Jesus Christ. Presuming previous knowledge of the Gospel message, St. Peter starts his discourse today, “You know what has happened…” St. Peter then repeats the early Christian community’s brief kerygma, a brief outline of the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Christ: “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him...They put him to death by hanging him on a tree. This man God raised on the third day and granted that he be visible, not to all the people, but to us, the witnesses chosen by God in advance, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead (Acts10:34-37).”
Such preaching by St. Peter proves effective and the gathered community, including many Gentiles, receives and accepts the Holy Spirit: “While Peter was still speaking these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the word.” Yes, it was the Word, the Good News, the Gospel message that touched the hearts and minds of this diverse congregation and opened them to the grace of God. St. Paul would later insist on the same point to the Romans: “Thus faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ (10:17).” Acquaintance with the historical person Jesus Christ made available through the spoken and written word of the Church is at the heart of the authentic Christian experience. St. John in his writings would address the same issue: “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent (17:3).” So the intimate knowledge of the man Jesus Christ — his preaching, his ministry, his passion, death and resurrection — is the root and foundation of authentic Christianity.
The Roman Catholic Christian community — the Church — is privileged and should also be humbled to have access to the man Jesus Christ through many religious experiences. For over two thousand years the Church has been proclaiming its belief in the historical Jesus: “I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God…For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven…and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate…rose again on the third day…ascended into heaven. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead.” These same beliefs are contemplated in the Sacred Scriptures preached and pondered daily by believers. And along with these beliefs the Church has insisted on a Christlike life of moral conduct: “…have love one for one another.” In true human fashion the Church has celebrated sanctified rituals that recreate historic moments of encounter with the Risen Christ. Baptism, Penance, Eucharist, Confirmation, Anointing, Marriage, and Priesthood all celebrate moments of personal contact with Christ himself. And of course no believer is ever denied intimate access to Christ through private prayer and reflection.
The solemnity of the Resurrection of Christ from the dead is a vivid reminder that Jesus continues his work within the believing community not only as a memory as do so many celebrated and historic persons from the past but rather as a living vital force — a living person — who can still inspire and guide and heal and redeem all mankind. Death is usually the curtailment of contacts among earthly persons. Christ’s triumph over death — his Easter resurrection — is a lively testimony to his continuing work of forgiving sins, strengthening souls, healing minds and uniting persons. Christ’s Holy Catholic Church continues exactly his ministry of salvation, empowered by the same “Spirit of Jesus” (Acts16:7) that guided Christ himself during his public ministry and that guided the first generation of believers after Christ’s Ascension to his heavenly dwelling place.
As believers saved by embracing the Gospel message, Catholics must do all we can do to preach and to preserve that original kerygma, that original Good News that Jesus was born, preached, died and rose for mankind’s justification. Living a Christlike life, promoting belief in the Sacred Scriptures and Christian Tradition, celebrating the liturgical commemorations of Christ’s life, admonishing the sinner and remembering the poor will continue the Word and work of Jesus through the ages.
