After St Paul returned to Jerusalem following one of his missionary journeys, he caused a riot in the temple by his preaching. He was rescued by Roman guards and subsequently turned over to the Sanhedrin, the ruling body of the Jews which was made up of Sadducees who did not believe in the resurrection and Pharisees who did. In proclaiming that he was on trial because of his hope in the resurrection, Paul was not only stating the truth but also using a clever tactic to turn the Sadducees and Pharisees against each other.

I have to imagine that there was a slight smile on Paul's face as he resorted to this tactic. Nonetheless, the matter of the resurrection, that of Jesus and ours as well, is at the heart of our faith. That is why the Lord appeared to Paul and declared: "Keep up your courage! Just as you have given testimony to me here in Jerusalem, so must you do in Rome." This testimony has come down to us and has shaped our faith in the resurrection.

In the responsorial psalm we proclaimed our faith in the resurrection, "You will show me the path to life, fullness of joy in your presence, the delights at your hand forever" (Ps.16:9-11).

This faith of ours is confirmed by the words of Jesus in the Gospel addressed to his Father, "To them I have revealed your name ... so that your love for me may live in them, and I may live in them."