As Christians, we have just completed the week that we call Holy Week. It began with Palm Sunday and then focused on the Triduum: Holy Thursday, Good Friday, the Easter Vigil and finally Easter Sunday. These days of focusing on our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, can cause us to be overwhelmed. The stories we hear from the Scriptures tell us of Jesus who was willing to share a meal with his disciples never limiting who was called to that table. He is described as being so humble that he was willing to wash the feet of his followers. We know that he suffered before and during his death on the cross. He experienced betrayal, physical torture, a feeling of abandonment by his followers and even by God and finally death itself. In our attempts to understand all of this, we might have been able to participate in the Vigil, when we are told of God’s activity in life since the beginning of time. We call this salvation history.
Perhaps the greatest gift of all during this time of year is that we can identify with Jesus Christ because of our Baptism when we are immersed in water, anointed with holy oil, given a candle and a white garment signifying that we are one with Christ. Nothing can separate us from God unless we choose to take a different path. Even then, God is always waiting for us to turn to him as we come to deepen our relationship with God. This is what faith is all about.
Finally we come to the wonderful story that we hear on Easter Sunday. It involves a woman called Mary of Magdala. When Jesus is placed in the tomb, Mary comes early in the morning but finds that the stone that blocked the entrance was removed. She runs quickly to Peter and the other disciple whom Jesus loves. They run to the tomb and Peter enters first even though the other disciple arrives first. There they find that the body is not there, but only the burial cloths and cloth covering his head. They know he is not there but do they understand what is meant by resurrection?
So it is with us in our own lives. We grapple with the meaning of resurrection and as we grow in our relationship with God through his son, Jesus Christ, we come to know that resurrection is about new life with the Lord. May the Easter Season help us to believe and understand in a deeper way.
Finally, as I prepare to submit this reflection, I remind all of us to pray that Pope Francis enjoys the embrace of the Risen Christ. His leadership in the world has been remarkable and for that we are grateful. May he rest in peace.
– Helen Ackermann