Podcast Summary

Bishop Barron’s Sunday Sermons: "The Revolution of the Resurrection"

February 25, 2025
Host: Bishop Robert Barron

Overview

In this episode, Bishop Robert Barron reflects on the revolutionary reality of the resurrection of Jesus, focusing specifically on St. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, chapter 15. As the Church approaches Lent, Bishop Barron unpacks the centrality of the resurrection in Christian life—not as a metaphor or private vision, but as an earth-shattering event that redefines history, hope, and the meaning of human existence. He challenges interpretations that reduce the resurrection to mere symbolism or moral teaching and dives into the transformative implications for believers.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Resurrection: Central Fact, Not Mere Symbol (01:00–06:10)

• Paul’s Focus:
  Bishop Barron points out Paul's singular emphasis on resurrection ("anastasis") as the heart of his message.

  “You can't really overstate that when Paul comes into these various cities to preach, he's not preaching a moral message. … the word that, it's just like a refrain in Paul is anastasis, anastasis, resurrection, resurrection.” — Bishop Barron (02:15)

• Personal Encounter:
  Paul’s life is transformed by meeting the risen Christ on the road to Damascus—his priorities, beliefs, and sense of self are all radically changed.

  “He sees the risen Christ. And then everything changed. That's the Paul who can now say, it's no longer I who live, it's Christ who lives in me.” — Bishop Barron (03:17)

• Not a Private, Subjective Experience:
  Barron strongly rejects the idea—found in certain academic circles—that the resurrection was merely a feeling or memory among Jesus’ followers.

  “Nonsense. Nonsense. … It does not stand up to any kind of biblical analysis.” — Bishop Barron (05:00)

2. Eyewitness Testimony and Historical Claims (06:10–10:00)

• Naming Names:
  St. Paul mentions specific individuals and groups who encountered the risen Jesus, including Peter, the twelve, five hundred at once, and James.

  “He's naming names, and it's very important. … Most of them are still around. If you want to find out, go talk to them.” — Bishop Barron (07:18)

• Martyrdom as Witness:
  The apostles’ willingness to die rather than deny the resurrection is highlighted as strong evidence for its authenticity.

  “They all died rather than deny this fact. … they said, no.” — Bishop Barron (09:30) “The grave marker of one of these people, namely Cephas … is one of the most famous buildings in the world.” (referring to St. Peter’s Basilica) — Bishop Barron (09:47)

3. The Absolute Necessity of Resurrection for Christianity (10:00–11:10)

• Faith Hinges on Resurrection:
  Without belief in the resurrection, Christianity collapses. Jesus as mere moral teacher is insufficient.

  “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.” — Bishop Barron quoting St. Paul (10:46) “So don't bore me with this nonsense about, oh, I'm a good Christian because I believe in the ethical teaching of Jesus. … If he's not been raised, your faith is futile and you're still in your sins.” — Bishop Barron (11:03)

• Sin and the 'Old World':
  Without the resurrection, humanity remains trapped in sin and death; the resurrection opens the way to a “new world.”

  “If Christ has not been raised, that means he was put to death… So we're still living in the old world, the old world of sin and death and the dominance of weak people by the strong. … Sin is no longer dominant.” — Bishop Barron (11:20)

4. 'Firstfruits'—The Resurrection as Harbinger (11:50–12:56)

• A New Era Started:
  Jesus’ resurrection is not a one-time oddity but the beginning—the “firstfruits”—of what God intends for all the righteous.

  “No, no, no. They saw he's the first fruits of those who've fallen asleep. In other words, it's the harbinger.” — Bishop Barron (12:04)

• Hope for the Future:
  The resurrection is the sign of what awaits believers: a new and higher life.

  “God has begun the process of bringing us all into a new and higher life. It's why we find hope in the resurrection of Jesus.” — Bishop Barron (12:30)

5. What Kind of Resurrection? Physical and Spiritual (12:57–13:58)

• Paul’s Analogies—Seed & Plant:
  Using agricultural imagery, Paul explains that the body is like a seed, which dies to give rise to greater life.

  “What's sown is perishable, but what bursts forth from that is imperishable. What's sown is a physical body, but it's raised as a spiritual body.” — Bishop Barron (13:25)

• Not Greek but Jewish Thought:
  Barron clarifies that Paul speaks of transformation, not the Greek notion of soul-escape.

  “Greeks thought about souls escaping from the body … But that's not a Jewish or biblical perspective. No, no, I am my body.” — Bishop Barron (13:45)

• Elevation, Not Abandonment:
  The resurrected body is the current body “enhanced, raised to a new pitch of perfection.”

  “We're not getting rid of the body, not leaving the body behind. But it puts on something new and higher, enhanced.” — Bishop Barron (14:12)

6. Death Has Been Defeated (14:12–14:53)

• Victory Metaphors:
  Barron switches from agricultural to military terms to underline that, through Christ, death itself is conquered.

  “Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? … Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” — Bishop Barron (14:20)

• Christian Life Under New Lordship:
  Believers live not under death or sin, but under Christ’s reign.

  “We Christians are those who live now under his lordship, not under the lordship of sin.” — Bishop Barron (14:37)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On reducing the Resurrection to a symbol:

  “Nonsense. Nonsense. … It does not stand up to any kind of biblical analysis.” (05:00)

• On the testimony of hundreds:

  “Not 500, not 500 at one time. Having what? A mass hallucination? … Most of whom are still alive. What's the point? You can talk to them.” (07:51–08:10)

• Martyrdom as evidence:

  “Peter … who saw him. His bones, they're still under that church in Rome. Don't talk to me about illusions and hallucinations and all that nonsense.” (09:48)

• On the body's transformation:

  “This lowly body bursting into life at a higher level as the seed bursts into life, this purely physical body becoming a spiritual body. I would say a body enhanced, raised to a new pitch of perfection.” (13:41)

• Personal application:

  “Get out your Bibles first Corinthians 15. Walk through that magnificent text and rejoice in the power of the resurrection. And God bless you.” (14:52)

Important Timestamps

• Main Homily Begins: 00:39
• Paul’s Testimony and the Eyewitnesses: 06:10–09:47
• Centrality of Resurrection (If Christ Has Not Been Raised): 10:00–11:10
• Resurrection as ‘Firstfruits’: 11:50–12:56
• Explaining ‘Spiritual Body’: 12:57–13:58
• Death Has Been Swallowed in Victory: 14:12–14:53

In summary:
Bishop Barron's sermon passionately affirms that the resurrection of Jesus is not merely a private or symbolic event but the pivotal, world-changing truth of Christianity. Paul’s testimony in 1 Corinthians 15 is treated as historically robust, rooted in eyewitnesses and martyrdom. The resurrection inaugurates a new creation, offering not only future hope but a transformed existence here and now. Christians, Barron insists, are called to live in light of this reality—under the lordship of the risen Christ.