Christ author of the resurrection and of life

The apostle Paul, recalling the happiness for the regained salvation, says: As through Adam death entered this world, so through Christ salvation is given again to the world (cf. Rom 5:12). And again: The first man taken from the earth, is earth; the second man comes from heaven, and is therefore heavenly (1 Cor 15:47). He also says: "As we have carried the image of the man of earth", that is of the old man in sin, "we will also bear the image of the heavenly man" (1 Cor 15:49), that is, we have the salvation of man assumed, redeemed, renewed and purified in Christ. According to the apostle himself, Christ comes first because he is the author of his resurrection and of life. Then come those who belong to Christ, that is, those who live following the example of his holiness. These have security based on his resurrection and will possess with him the glory of the celestial promise, as the Lord himself says in the Gospel: He who follows me will not perish but will pass from death to life (cf. Jn 5:24).
Thus the Savior's passion is the life and salvation of man. This is why he wanted to die for us, so that we, believing in him, might live forever. Over time he wanted to become what we are, so that, having fulfilled the promise of his eternity in us, we could live with him forever.
This, I say, is the grace of the celestial mysteries, this is the gift of Easter, this is the feast of the year we most desire, these are the beginnings of life-giving realities.
For this mystery, the children born in the vital washing of the holy Church, reborn in the simplicity of children, make the stammer of their innocence resound. By virtue of Easter, Christian parents and saints continue, through faith, a new and innumerable descent.
For Easter the tree of faith blooms, the baptismal font becomes fruitful, the night shines with new light, the gift of heaven descends and the sacrament gives its celestial nourishment.
For Easter the Church welcomes all men into her bosom and makes them one people and one family.
The worshipers of the one divine substance and omnipotence and of the name of the three Persons sing with the Prophet the psalm of the annual feast: "This is the day the Lord has made: let us rejoice and rejoice in it" (Ps 117, 24). Which day? I wonder. The one who gave the beginning to life, the beginning to light. This day is the architect of splendor, that is, the Lord Jesus Christ himself. He said of himself: I am the day: whoever walks during the day does not stumble (cf. Jn 8, 12), that is: Whoever follows Christ in everything, tracing his footsteps will reach the threshold of eternal light. This is what he asked of the Father when he was still here below with his body: Father, I want those who believed in me to be where I am: so that as you are in me and I in you, so they too remain in us (cf. . Jn 17, 20 ff.).