Father Myron J Pereira, SJ
The two greatest feasts in the Church’s calendar, Christmas and Easter, are in many ways also the most mysterious.
If Christmas heralds the birth of a divine Child born in stark poverty, announced by angels, visited and adored by strangers from the East, Easter no less speaks of a man brutally done to death and buried, who returns to life, meets his friends, eats with them, and as mysteriously disappears into thin air.
Christmas is full of symbols, and so is Easter. For whenever we touch a truth in our lives too close for words, we use symbols. A death in the family leaves us in tears, and no mother ever speaks of how she gave birth.
Colors, sounds, touch, movement, smell, all these expressions of our senses convey our deepest feelings more powerfully than mere words.
Life and death are our deepest experiences, and these last days have all been about them. Death; betrayal, suffering, torture, humiliation, whatever diminishes and impoverishes, Jesus has been through it all.
But death is not the last word; life is.
Life being born, being reborn, renewed, healed, made whole, given growth, given insight, given power, given abundance. This is what life in the Spirit is all about, this is what Easter is. It surpasses our ability to express it in words.
What then is Easter? It is God’s Spirit within us, alive and active, an inspiration, a force, enjoyed in all its abundance. In essence, Easter is not a single day; it is a climate of the soul.
Easter is the conviction that this divine life is ours for the asking, and for the taking. Once given at Baptism, the Holy Spirit is never rescinded, even if it lies dormant for years on end, like the ugly duckling that did not know it was a swan, or the barnyard chicken unaware it was really an eagle, once given, recumbent, and can be activated like a sudden power, transforming life out of all expectation.
This is the sense of empowerment, and confidence, and abundance that Easter brings.
I once read an article on Gorbachev and the collapse of the Soviet Union. It was titled, ”The Man who taught Russia not to fear.”
It is the Risen Jesus who really teaches us not to fear.
The angel spoke to the women. Do not be afraid. You are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He has risen. He is not here.
Jesus to his apostles on Easter Sunday evening. Do not be afraid. It is I, not a ghost.
Do not be afraid. All your sins have been forgiven, and God holds nothing against you. No one holds anything against you anymore, no one. No demons from the past or ghosts will ever haunt you again. In your soul, there is peace and harmony, integration and fulfilment. The first gift of the Spirit is an absence of fear.
And the second? Enjoy the presence of the Spirit, enjoy the abundance of the Spirit’s gifts, enjoy the charisms.
What is your special gift to the community? That is what a charism is.
Are you sent on a special mission, an apostle?
Are you someone who guides others to the deeper meanings of life, a teacher?
Are you outspoken on matters of justice, integrity, honesty, a prophet?
Are you a healing and comforting presence amid pain and strife, a healer?
Are you one who praises God, no matter what, the gift of tongues?
Have you experienced deep forgiveness and reconciliation, the gift of tears?
Is your trust in God unshakeable and total, the gift of faith?
We could go on and on. You see how varied and deep is the Christian experience. You see how rich and confident the Spirit makes you. This is the meaning of the Resurrection. This is the gift of Easter, for us now and always.
Our response is one word, just one: Alleluia, Praise the Lord! – UCA News
*The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official editorial position of UCA News.
