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<v SPEAKER_00>We arrive on this Easter Monday, and there are two reactions to the resurrection in today's gospel.

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<v SPEAKER_00>They couldn't be any more different.

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<v SPEAKER_00>On one side, you have the women, they leave the tomb, scripture tells us, fearful yet overjoyed.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That's such a real line.

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<v SPEAKER_00>They don't have everything figured out.

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<v SPEAKER_00>They're not theologians.

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<v SPEAKER_00>They're not standing there with a clean explanation of what just happened.

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<v SPEAKER_00>They're overwhelmed.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And yet, what do they do?

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<v SPEAKER_00>They move, they run.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Because when something is real, you don't need to understand everything in order to respond.

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<v SPEAKER_00>You just go.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And then on the other side, you have the guards and the chief priest.

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<v SPEAKER_00>They also know something happened.

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<v SPEAKER_00>They saw the empty tomb.

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<v SPEAKER_00>They experienced the earthquake.

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<v SPEAKER_00>They know that this is not normal.

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<v SPEAKER_00>But instead of surrendering to the truth, they manage it.

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<v SPEAKER_00>They control it.

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<v SPEAKER_00>They pay for a different story.

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<v SPEAKER_00>They convince themselves of another narrative.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And here's the key.

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<v SPEAKER_00>They don't deny the event, they explain it away.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And that's right there.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That's the decision every one of us faces.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Not whether something happened, but what are we going to do about it?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Because the resurrection is not just an event in the past, it's a reality pressing on your life right here, right now.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And you have two options.

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<v SPEAKER_00>You can either run with it or you can explain it away so that it fits your narrative.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Now, if we go to the first reading, the Acts of the Apostles, and we'll be reading through this whole Easter season from the Acts of the Apostles, Peter stands up.

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<v SPEAKER_00>This is the same Peter who denied Jesus.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The same Peter who couldn't even admit he knew him, and now he's preaching publicly, boldly, clearly, courageously.

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<v SPEAKER_00>What changed?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Well, he encountered the risen Christ.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That's it.

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<v SPEAKER_00>No new personality, no special training, just one encounter, and everything changed.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And Peter says something that we cannot miss.

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<v SPEAKER_00>God raised him up.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It was impossible for death to hold him.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Impossible.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Not unlikely, not difficult, impossible.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Because life itself cannot be defeated.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Truth itself cannot be buried.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Love itself cannot be killed.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That's where this becomes very practical for all of us.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Because some of us are still living like death has the final word.

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<v SPEAKER_00>We carry things like they're permanent, forever.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That sin that you keep going back to, or even the sin that you've already confessed, but you keep dredging up.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That wound that still defines you, that situation you've already decided will never change.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And then Easter comes and says something different.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That's not truth anymore.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That's not who you are anymore.

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<v SPEAKER_00>But here's where I want to push you a little.

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<v SPEAKER_00>You cannot still choose to live like it's true.

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<v SPEAKER_00>You can't stand in front of the empty tomb and still walk away unchanged.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That's the danger.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Not disbelief, not indifference, trying to explain it away.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Saying, well, that's nice, but it doesn't really affect my life.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It's maybe it affects me for a moment here while I'm listening to this homily, but once I get into the real world, that's a different situation.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Well, the women didn't do that.

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<v SPEAKER_00>They ran.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And on the way, Jesus meets them.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Don't miss that.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He meets them while they're in motion.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Not when they had everything figured out, not when they had perfect clarity.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He meets them because they were moving towards him.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That's your takeaway today.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Very simple.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Move.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Take that first step.

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<v SPEAKER_00>One honest prayer, one return to confession, one act of forgiveness you've been avoiding, one decision to come back again this week.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Don't overcomplicate things.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Resurrection life begins when you stop standing still.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And then Jesus says something important.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Do not be afraid.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Because fear is what keeps people in the tomb.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Fear of change, fear of letting go, fear of trusting God again.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And then Jesus says, you don't have to stay there.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So on this Easter Monday, don't just don't just be in this fear of unchange.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Choose to move even imperfectly, even slowly.

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<v SPEAKER_00>You'll discover what they discovered.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The risen Christ doesn't wait at the end.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He meets you on the way.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That's Easter.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Something has happened right here, right now, and it's happening to you.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Make the decision to let it stick.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Happy Easter.