What is man’s greatest suffering? Man’s fundamental suffering is not financial difficulty, or failure in examinations, or unemployment or inability to get the desired life partner. Man’s fundamental suffering is the fear of death. The decay of the tomb creates an existential anguish in man. Man’s fundamental anxiety is the dread of death, and the separation, loneliness, helplessness, sorrow and uncertainty that death involves. Being rendered helpless by particular problems is not so severe as this pain which is an indivisible part of the human condition. It can be called existential pain. It is this pain that is the fundamental anxiety of humans and the basic agony of man’s consciousness.

Even Jesus suffered this pain thinking of his imminent death: “I am deeply grieved, even to death” (Mk 14:34). In the face of this pain Jesus began to be disturbed and sad (cf Mk 14:33). He fell on the ground and prayed that, if possible, this chalice may be removed from him (cf Mk 14:36). When the terrible suffering of his approaching death gripped him, “In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground” (Lk 22:44).
 

It is the historical fact of Christ’s resurrection that presented the golden light of hope to mankind that stood perplexed before the existential grief generated by inevitable death. Lord Jesus united death to resurrection in an inseparable manner through his death and rising from the dead. Thus death is no more a problem to be feared, rather, it is a door to the glory of the resurrection. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, the poisonous teeth of the serpent of death, have been extracted forever. Therefore, St Paul asks, “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” ( 1 Cor 15:55). He could thus embrace death as joyfully as he embraced life.“For me, living is Christ and dying is gain” (Phil 1:21).

The New Testament presents Christ’s resurrection not as a symbol or myth but as a real experience of men fully endowed with reason (cf 1 Cor 15:3b-6).

The community of disciples were engulfed in a sense of frustration, failure and disappointment after Jesus’ death (cf Lk 24:21). It was the experience of Jesus’ resurrection that filled them with the zeal of faith.

Faith in Jesus, who conquered death and rose from the dead and became the Lord of life and death, gives dependable support and realistic hope to man who stands helpless in the face of death.
 
 

If fear of death and the decay of the grave are the deepest suffering of man, the greatest joy and good that man can attain, are made possible by a participation in the glory of the resurrection. Miraculous healing of sickness, being blessed with children or getting employed through the power of prayer, are happy events. However, there is a joy that exceeds all these joys: “Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven”(Lk 10:20). The ultimate effect of faith is the experience of the kingdom of God and of heavenly felicity. It was the keys of heaven that Jesus promised as reward for the firm faith of Peter (cf Mt 16:19)

Though all who believe receive blessings in this world also, “If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied”( 1 Cor 15:19).
 
 

St Paul tells the believers what to do to obtain the participation in the resurrection which is the greatest blessing man can receive. If we must become participators in the heavenly joy given by Jesus, who has risen from dead and lives in glory with the Father, we must “Seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God” (Col 3:1). “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” (Col 3:2).

In order to take part in the resurrection of Jesus, Paul suffered the loss of all things and regarded them as rubbish (cf Phil 3:8). “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead” (Phil 3:10).
 
 

It is hope that bestows the power of endurance to man. Those who have lost this hope stand bewildered in the face of suffering, unable to keep life moving forward. The Christian vision rooted in the resurrection of Jesus, gives to mankind hope in regard to the future, and patience in suffering. The example Jesus gives is very simple and touching: “When a woman is in labour, she has pain, because her hour has come. But when her child is born, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy of having brought a human being into the world”(Jn 16:21).

To participate in the glory of the resurrection of Jesus is the greatest blessing that man can receive. That is the only gift which has the same value as eternity.