Today, we celebrate. Today, we rejoice. The Christ, who suffered and died, has done what He promised. He has triumphed over sin and death. He has risen from the dead, as He said He would. This one triumphant act, this, the greatest of all of His miracles, shows to the world that His words are true. He IS lord and master of the universe. We CAN believe in Him. If we ever doubted, we have no reason to doubt any more.
But even now, in this jubilant and glorious victory, how does Jesus conduct Himself? He meets two strangers on the road to Emmaus and hides his identity from them. He quietly mingles with His apostles, continuing His teaching of them. If we were in the same position, would we not stand in the face of our enemies, gloating with every fiber of our body shouting out, “I told you so”? Thank God, we are not God!!!
So, today we have cause to celebrate. We know that our faith, our beliefs, do hold water. We are reminded, once again, that all mankind has been bought back, has been brought back to the loving embrace of the Father. (See the blog: Resurrection of the Body and Life Everlasting.)
Our struggles, our trials, our sufferings can be more than just some negative happenings that we experience in this life. We can merge our sufferings with those of Jesus. Together, we can offer them to Our Father in Heaven. At Mass, we say, “Through Him, With Him and In Him, all honor and glory is Yours almighty Father.” Attaching to the sufferings of Jesus, our own sacrifices, we acknowledge and recognize our own unworthiness and need for forgiveness.
So, we have been renewed. We have been exonerated. And, we didn’t even have to lift a finger.!?!? WRONG!!!! We may act like we have nothing further to do, we may live our lives as though nothing further is required from us, but that is terribly, terribly wrong. The actions of Jesus were for our benefit. But they were just that, actions of Jesus. We have a commitment to make and to live. Jesus said, “Unless you take up your cross and follow me…” He has shown us how to live, how to conduct our lives. His words, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life”… are not just poetic niceties. He is showing us our commitment. In Matt, Chapter 11, 28 He says, “Come to me, all you that labor, and are burdened, and I will refresh you”, and again in 30, “For my yoke is sweet and my burden light”. He is not asking us to die on the cross. He did that. He is simply asking us to love one another. And, in loving one another, in living in such a manner, we embrace Christ’s life, death and Resurrection. We will rise, as He has.
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I read an editorial in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette today that really touched me. It was worded as though it were Mary Magdalen speaking, many years after the Resurrection, giving an interview to a young reporter who wanted to know what really happened that first Easter morning. She speaks at length about how desolate they all were, with the feeling that all was lost. Some quotes from it:
“The empty tomb should have been proof of hope; I saw it only as cause for despair. We see what we train ourselves to see.”
Then she says that when she asked the “gardener” for help, it was out of desperation, and she didn’t really expect any. Then:
“Then I heard my name. How strange, I thought. How could the gardener have known me? That’s when I turned. And I realized…….Who The Gardener was, and the whole, fake world was turned upside down….the night shattered….He had risen. Funny how all you need to happen is to be called by your right name—and turn. YOU HAVE TO TURN. That’s the key. So you can really see Him, as if for the first time. Then everything falls into place.”
Then, she offers the reporter some wine, but doesn’t take any herself, because: “I don’t need the wine. I’ve been drunk with life, and love, ever since that moment when it hit me.”
That is the key, isn’t it? WE HAVE TO TURN away from the world and all its enticements, so as to truly SEE Jesus, and allow Him to fill us with His love, which we can then try to radiate out to others as best we can.
Your thoughts have been so beautiful all week, thank you for sharing them with us all.
Rita,
Thank you very much for sharing those thoughts with us. That was a perspective, I never ever would have thought of. I like the point, especially, about the TURN. The Turn forces us to move away from ourselves, and focus on Him. And suddenly a light goes on, over us and in our heart.\
I believe, sincerely, if we think of others, are concerned about others, we don’t have to wonder what should we do for them. The genuine love and concern (Christ’s love) guides us to what we will say and do. Again, we take ourselves out of the picture and let Him direct.
Joe