Easter Sunday is celebrated as a most significant feast of the Christian Liturgical year. As we remember the death and resurrection of Jesus, we are reminded of the whole mystery of darkness and death leading to light and new life.
We have marvelled at tiny green shoots on the blackened branches of trees after a bushfire and lush vegetation emerging from the dry earth after rains soak a desert landscape. In the northern hemisphere, colourful flowers bloom after the snow has melted away.
Pope Francis shared his reflection in The Joy of the Gospel:
Christ’s resurrection is not an event of the past; it contains a vital power which has permeated this world. Where all seems to be dead, signs of the resurrection suddenly spring up… Each day in our world beauty is born anew, it rises transformed through the storms of history. Values always tend to reappear under new guises, and human beings have arisen time after time from situations that seemed doomed.”
On the first Easter Sunday, Jesus’ disciples were discouraged and fearful. Mary Magdalene could not see clearly and did not recognise the Risen Jesus until he called her by name. A couple of disciples retreating to Emmaus did not realise Jesus was walking with them until he shared a meal and explained the Scriptures.
Peter and some of the apostles had gone back to their old ways and fishing. Having caught nothing doing things their way, they did not at first recognise the stranger on the shore as the Risen Jesus. Heeding Jesus’ advice of where to cast their net, they were overcome by their catch. They heard the invitation, “Come and have breakfast”, saw the charcoal fire cooking the fish and the bread and knew it was Jesus! (cf John 21:12)
During this Eastertide, perhaps we could respond to the Risen Jesus and ponder the invitation to “Come and have breakfast” or maybe we might issue the invitation to someone to “Come and have breakfast”.
We read that in another of the Risen Jesus’ appearances to his disciples, when they were frightened and gathered behind locked doors, his greeting was “Peace be with you.” (John 20:19).
This Easter we pray for that Peace that the world cannot give!
Sr Josephine Dubiel
Congregational Leader