The Red Sox and the Resurrection: Homily for Thursday, April 9, 2026

Resurrection. There are so many aspects in our life where I think we struggle to believe. We struggle, for example, to believe that our sins can really be forgiven. There might be a sin that we hang on to, that we say, “God just couldn’t forgive this.” Or we look around at the world and say, “What evidence is there that God is active in this world?” It just looks like such a mess. We can question whether or not God really can change lives. We can find that we want a life of faith, but without the wounds. Do you believe in the resurrection? Readings for Today.

The Red Sox and the Resurrection

It was an amazing event. People had waited their whole lives to witness this. It was something that I remember vividly at the beginning of my Dominican life. After 86 years, the Boston Red Sox won the World Series. And Joe Castiglione, who if you are from New England is a name you would recognize because he was the radio voice of the Red Sox for a long, long time, had a call on the radio that really was talking about how incredulous this was. As the ball was thrown to first base for the final out, he said, “Do you believe?”

Now I have to admit at first it was very tough to believe because the Red Sox were heartbreakers. It wasn’t just that they hadn’t won the World Series in a long time. They made it their purpose to get just to the edge of victory only to lose. They lost to the Cardinals in seven games in 1946. They lost to the Cardinals again in seven games in 1967. In 1975, they lost to the Reds in seven games with a controversial call about catcher’s interference. In 1986, they lost to the Mets in seven games with a closer who blew a three-run lead and the infamous error by Bill Buckner at first base. I remember in 1978, a playoff game to get into the playoffs. Bucky Dent, who got a new middle name, hit a home run for the Yankees. In 2003, it was similar. It seemed hard to believe.

But during this Easter season, we have something even harder to believe. That Jesus is in fact risen from the dead. I don’t know about you, but there are times in my life where I just take it for granted. It’s so familiar to me. I don’t know how many Easter’s I’ve celebrated in my life, but it’s a lot. It just becomes kind of something that we accept without really thinking about what it means. Do you believe?

Because there are so many aspects in our life where I think we struggle to believe. We struggle, for example, to believe that our sins can really be forgiven. There might be a sin that we hang on to, that we say, “God just couldn’t forgive this.” Or we look around at the world and say, “What evidence is there that God is active in this world?” It just looks like such a mess. We can question whether or not God really can change lives. We can find that we want a life of faith, but without the wounds.

In our culture here in the United States, we tend to picture the risen Christ much more than the crucified Christ. If you go to other parts of the world, it is the crucified Christ that is something that is more identifiable for the people who see it. Because their lives are filled with such suffering, and they want this suffering to be redeemed.

Jesus often, in the midst of his resurrection appearances, has kind of a way of validating that it’s really him. He shows them his hands and his side. He shows them the wounds, the holy wounds we call them, because of what they accomplished. Do you believe? Do you believe that Jesus is risen from the dead? That Jesus can change your lives? And that you too can have a deep and eternal relationship with Jesus? Do you believe?

On the friar, you can listen to our homilies (based on the readings of the day) and reflections. You can also ask us to pray for you or to pray for others. You can subscribe to our website to be informed whenever we publish an update.

About Author

thefriarwebmaster

See author's posts