"He is not here; he has risen, just as he said." ~ Matthew 28:6
The liturgy proceeded as we listened to all seven readings in the dark Church. After the final Old Testament reading, the resounding Gloria began, with a triumphant organ prelude, bells, and joyous song. Christ, Our Lord, has risen!
Throughout last night's Vigil Mass and especially at the Easter Sunday Mass this morning, I have been reflecting a lot on the Resurrection, and what it means for my life. I have to say that for me, and maybe for all Christians it is often a temptation to take the Resurrection for granted. We know the story, we know the course of events. We know that it is the foundational event for our faith, but it is so easy to think of Christ's Resurrection as simply an abstract event, long ago in history.
In the priest's homily this morning, he encouraged the congregation to realize that Christ's Resurrection was not just simply an event that happened 2000 years ago; Christ's Resurrection continues to touch our lives today. And so I began to reflect. What does Christ's Resurrection mean in my life, today, right now? Why should it be important to me? Was it just some far off, miraculous event that we commemorate each year and profess in faith?
No. It is infinitely meaningful for my life, and in your life. Because Christ wants to shatter the darkness in each and everyone's lives. He came to free us from the bounds of sin and death. Christ wants to bring resurrection to our lives, in a thousand different ways. He wants to bring Resurrection to all of the hurting, broken parts of our hearts; to bring Resurrection to the fears that bind us; to bring Resurrection when we fall down; to bring resurrection to the sins that hold us captive; to bring resurrection to our boredom, our frustrations, our discouragement, our lack of faith. We only have to invite Him to come into those places, those situations, and those struggles, and He is ready to bring resurrection to every corner and crevice of our life.
He lives, Alleluia! May the light of His Resurrection bring abundant joy and peace to our hearts, for "In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." ~ John 1:4-5
Alleluia! Christ is Risen! Although it has been a quiet and contemplative Easter for me since I was unable to go home and spend the holiday with my family, my celebration of the triduum has been rich with His grace. I was able to attend a beautiful Easter Vigil Mass at the Dominican House of Studies last night. We all processed out into the cloister courtyard before Mass began, and stood waiting in silent anticipation with the dark night sky above us and the cool spring air surrounding us. The friars and brothers (probably about 30 of them) were dressed in their white cassocks and black Lenten capes. With the strike on two tiny matches, one of the friars lit the Easter fire, and it was soon ablaze. The light of His triumph was kindled. After the prayers outside, we all processed through the cloister halls, back into the Church, as the priest sang "Christ Our Light," and we answered in chant, "Thanks be to God."
The liturgy proceeded as we listened to all seven readings in the dark Church. After the final Old Testament reading, the resounding Gloria began, with a triumphant organ prelude, bells, and joyous song. Christ, Our Lord, has risen!
Throughout last night's Vigil Mass and especially at the Easter Sunday Mass this morning, I have been reflecting a lot on the Resurrection, and what it means for my life. I have to say that for me, and maybe for all Christians it is often a temptation to take the Resurrection for granted. We know the story, we know the course of events. We know that it is the foundational event for our faith, but it is so easy to think of Christ's Resurrection as simply an abstract event, long ago in history.
In the priest's homily this morning, he encouraged the congregation to realize that Christ's Resurrection was not just simply an event that happened 2000 years ago; Christ's Resurrection continues to touch our lives today. And so I began to reflect. What does Christ's Resurrection mean in my life, today, right now? Why should it be important to me? Was it just some far off, miraculous event that we commemorate each year and profess in faith?
No. It is infinitely meaningful for my life, and in your life. Because Christ wants to shatter the darkness in each and everyone's lives. He came to free us from the bounds of sin and death. Christ wants to bring resurrection to our lives, in a thousand different ways. He wants to bring Resurrection to all of the hurting, broken parts of our hearts; to bring Resurrection to the fears that bind us; to bring Resurrection when we fall down; to bring resurrection to the sins that hold us captive; to bring resurrection to our boredom, our frustrations, our discouragement, our lack of faith. We only have to invite Him to come into those places, those situations, and those struggles, and He is ready to bring resurrection to every corner and crevice of our life.
He lives, Alleluia! May the light of His Resurrection bring abundant joy and peace to our hearts, for "In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." ~ John 1:4-5
No comments:
Post a Comment