Death and resurrection. That’s what Christianity is all about. Death and resurrection. Everything else just focuses in on those two things: death and resurrection.

Why do people die? It’s so unnatural. It hurts so bad. It makes even the toughest dude cry. Sometimes we can go through stretches of time when nobody we know dies, and then we can go through stretches where many people we love die. Why do people die?

It’s because we sin. The Bible says, “The wages of sin is death.” We’ve been sinners ever since our lives began in our moms’ wombs. That’s why death can come at any age. It certainly came early to this young boy in today’s Gospel. His mother had nobody else to rely on. Her husband was dead already too. They had no other kids. How was she supposed to take care of herself? Her life was over.

But then Jesus came along. He saw her, felt bad for her, and did something about it. He stopped that funeral procession and turned it right around. He sent the boy back home alive and well. Now the woman had support. Now she would live and not be afraid of what might happen tomorrow.

Jesus wasn’t done raising people. He also raised Jairus’ daughter and Lazarus. Finally He rose Himself. He raised Himself from the grave. He had been killed on The Cross. The Jews even sealed Him up in His tomb! But He came out anyways, and He had no trouble doing it.

What does it mean for us that Jesus broke out of the grave, that He went from dead to alive? It means that death is destroyed, conquered, burst. We will die, but someday He will raise us from the dead. Why? Because He has paid the price for all our sins, paid it so we don’t have to. Those who believe in Him, Who believe He has done this and thank Him for it, will go into eternal life. Those who don’t won’t.

So believe this. That’s the key to eternal life. You can’t live forever as young and beautiful yet, but in the next world, you can! Believing, trusting Him will get you there, for He is your Help and your Shield. Death and resurrection: that’s what Christianity’s all about. Alleluia!