“Easter came early this year.” Now, I know what you are thinking:
“Yeah, right father.”
“No really, it did. “
“Are you crazy? In case you haven’t noticed, there is a Pandemic going on, and the worst of the curve still in front of us.
“I know.”
“And that’s not all. Have you looked at your stock portfolio recently?
“Actually, I don’t have one.”
And the shortages! There are not enough supplies out there to keep folks safe. How can you say that Easter came early?”
Well, if you were looking for the Easter bunny, I am sure that he is right on schedule. But really, haven’t we all seen signs of Easter breaking into our world, of people choosing to make an end to sadness and darkness.
- It looked like a family making stations of the cross for their front sidewalk for people to pray as they walked past while exercising.
- It looked like a drive by Easter Egg hunt with a blessing at the end for children to know the joy and hope of this day. And people donated $1,200 to the St. Vincent de Paul Society to help those in need.
- It looked like St. Louisan Jack Dorsey donating a BILLION DOLLARS of his personal wealth to help with Covid-19 recovery.
- It looked like so many in the parish, checking in on their elderly neighbors, asking to make store runs for them, arranging rides to doctors and doing some chores…
Isn’t that exactly the power of the resurrection? That people turn from the smallness of heart and separated living that we so often find ourselves in so as to live for others and to give of ourselves. Easter comes every time people choose to say that death has no more power over them and they will live emptying love. Easter happens each time we turn from SIN and broken promises and small hearts and turn toward self giving love. Easter really did come early this year.
And let me say this by way of invitation/challenge.
As surreal as it is to have our Churches EMPTY this year, in many ways, isn’t that exactly what they are supposed to be? Not empty of people – I miss you and would love that you would be here, and not just your pictures taped to the pews – but empty because we have understood the message of the Angel in the tomb. “He is not here. He has risen. He has gone ahead of you to Galilee.” Empty, because like our risen Lord, the tomb cannot hold us. Empty because we too have taken this message, and gone from our tombs to all the Gallilee’s where we live and work and move and have our being. Empty because we too have been charged not just to encounter the living Christ in our lives of prayer and reflection, but because we have chosen to BRING CHRIST to our sisters and brothers in need.
Tim Flannigan, founder of the Catholic Leadership institute said it this way. (the full text will be in my Easter Sunday Missive)
What if this is the best Easter ever?
What if this time of struggle, uncertainty, and pain in the world allows us to better empathize with Christ’s passion and laying down of His life for us?
What if the Last Supper encourages us to appreciate our own seat at the Easter dinner table? Maybe we better cherish the value of eating together as a family and finding the good in each day?
What if Mary’s strength during the passion, inspires parents who are challenged with raising and teaching their children on their own right now to stay strong and do their best?
What if this holiday we learn to be more forgiving? Jesus’ first words after being hung on the cross were words of forgiveness.
What if the apostles, hidden in the Upper Room, give us the strength to continue on with quarantine, knowing that we will journey out two-by-two again?
What if we, our families, our loved ones, and Catholics around the world experience the joy and light of the Resurrection in…. ways that inspire us to appreciate, commit to, and serve our faith with more passion, gladness, and hope than ever before?
What if the opening of the tomb in three days foreshows the joy we feel when we can open our doors and go out into the world together again?
What if this is the best Easter yet?
Crazy, you say? Maybe. And yet, Easter did come early this year…