Unpacking The Mass (Keith Nester)

Easter 2024: He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!

Original Air Date: March 26, 2024
Summary by Podcast Summarizer AI

Overview of the Episode

This special Easter episode of Unpacking The Mass centers on the Resurrection of Jesus and its profound implications for personal faith and daily living. Host Keith Nester invites both new and lifelong Catholics to reflect not only on the historical reality of the Resurrection but on how this central Christian truth should radically reframe and transform their lives. Through an engaging and personal walkthrough of the Easter Sunday Mass readings, Keith emphasizes perseverance, steadfastness, and living out a faith that's anything but passive or routine.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Welcoming New Catholics — The Start of an Adventure

• Keith warmly welcomes those entering the Church at Easter and reminds them that their journey is just beginning, not ending.
  • "Your journey has not stopped. It's only just begun... Becoming Catholic, that's just the beginning of this incredible adventure that you're going to go on." (01:20)

2. The Resurrection: The Heart of Christian Faith

• The Easter celebration is described as the "Super Bowl for all Christians," focusing on the resurrection as pivotal. Faith is validated—if Christ didn’t rise, Christianity would be meaningless.
  • "If Jesus Christ hasn’t been raised from the dead, then as the Scripture says, our faith is in vain. Our preaching is useless and our preaching is in vain, friends... Christ really did rise from the grave." (08:00)

3. Scripture Readings and Personal Application

• Acts 10: Highlights Peter’s transformation and witness—he goes from denying Jesus to boldly proclaiming the Resurrection.
• Psalm 118: The deep joy and gratitude for what God has done.
• Colossians 3:1–4:
  • Set minds "on things above," as those who have been raised with Christ.
  • "Our mindset can't be the same old mindset, my friends. We've got to have a different mindset." (18:00)

4. The Gospel: The Loving Desperation of Mary Magdalene

• John 20:1–9: Detailed reflection on Mary Magdalene’s love and devotion—her actions driven by love, not practicality.
  • "Sometimes the power of love causes you to do things that appear to be irrational. And that's okay. When you love someone, you'll do ridiculous things... Are we the same way with Jesus?" (23:40)
  • Her commitment is offered as a model for passionate discipleship—"all in" for Christ, not returning to old routines.

5. The Resurrection and Our Lives: Three Callings

A. Steadfastness: Persevere in the Faith

• Remain committed, especially when faith is challenged, when Church life is difficult, or when enthusiasm wanes.
• "I'm not here to argue about theology and all that kind of stuff, but why do we need to be steadfast if it's all finished?... We still have to live into it. We still have to cooperate." (38:40)
• "Don't quit. Don't give up. There is an end to this and it's an awesome end. Don't lose it. Be steadfast." (39:50)

B. Unmovable: Stand Firm on Truth

• The truth of the Resurrection is objective and unchanging. Faith shouldn’t be based on personal preferences or external circumstances.
• "Those who live by that truth must not be flowing back and forth, wishy-washy in our faith... The world is going to try to move you. Your flesh is going to try to knock you off of that. The devil is going to try to knock you off of that." (41:10)
• Keith cautions against building faith on anything impermanent: favorite preachers, friends, or habits—“Build your life and your faith on the truth, the fullness of the faith, the sacraments, friends, they don't change.” (43:00)

C. Abound in the Work of the Lord: Live Out the Resurrection

• Faith in the Resurrection calls for active service: not pew-sitting, but daily saying “yes” to God’s will wherever you are.
• "You didn’t become Catholic to be a lazy pew sitter, to just sit back and do nothing... Be the first person who’s ready to step up and go, what needs to be done?" (44:24)
• Even mistakes made in trying to serve God are not in vain:
• "Even your mistakes, even when you mess up, that's not in vain. But always be abounding. Make it your life. Don't try to fit serving God into your life. Make serving God your life." (46:02)

6. Embrace Your Unique Call: Unified, Not Uniform

• Each Catholic is called to serve in their own way, within the unity of the Church, not by copying others' styles or personalities.
  • "You be who God made you to be, my friend. But be so in the Lord and watch how he uses you." (47:32)

7. The Hope of the Final Resurrection

• Using 1 Corinthians 15:51–58, Keith explains Christian hope in resurrection—that death doesn’t have the last word, though for now we still grieve with hope.
  • "Death still stings... But the pain is different now because we look forward to what is coming. One day... death will be completely conquered." (33:55)
  • The future transformation at Christ’s return should inspire perseverance and service now.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On New Faith Journeys:
  "Your journey has not stopped. It’s only just begun... When you become Catholic, that’s just the beginning of this incredible adventure." (01:20)

• On Resurrection as Proof:
  "The resurrection is not the end. It’s a new beginning. And make no mistake, it is the proof that Jesus is who he says he is." (12:40)

• On Mary Magdalene’s Love:
  "Her love for Jesus caused her to remember that even when things were in the darkest place, her love didn’t die." (23:55)

• On “Unmovable” Faith:
  "Christianity is not a matter of personal preference or personal opinion. It's a matter of historical truth that matters to you and that truth doesn't change. So you must never change." (43:25)

• On the Importance of Perseverance:
  "There will be plenty of opportunities for you to fall away and lose this incredible reality of the Resurrection because life is hard and the world stinks. Don't let it happen to you because He has risen." (40:55)

• On Living Out Faith:
  "Make it your life. Don't try to fit serving God into your life. Make serving God your life." (46:15)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Welcome and Introduction / New Catholics – 00:01–03:40
• Theme Statement: Resurrection Reframes Our Lives – 04:40
• First Reading (Acts 10) and Reflection – 07:01–09:45
• Psalm 118 Reading – 13:10
• Second Reading (Colossians 3:1–4) & Application – 17:25
• Gospel Reading (John 20:1–9) & Mary Magdalene’s Devotion – 20:35–29:00
• Desperation & Devotion: Are We “All In” On Jesus? – 29:40
• First Corinthians 15: Victory Over Death – 33:30
• How the Resurrection Should Change Us: Steadfast, Unmovable, Abounding – 38:30–47:10
• Embracing Individual Callings Within the Church – 47:20
• Closing Exhortations: Live the Resurrection Year-Round – 49:20

Conclusion

Keith Nester’s Easter message is a passionate, practical guide for those newly received or long-standing in the Catholic faith. The Resurrection is not just a doctrine or an annual celebration—it must be the axis around which everything in a Christian’s life turns. Keith’s blend of scriptural study, honest storytelling, and concrete advice creates a compelling call:
Be steadfast. Be unmovable. Always abound in the work of the Lord. Let Easter change you—for good.

He is risen. He is risen indeed!