After He rose, Jesus sought out His followers, showed Himself to them and revived their hope
When we make our way through Holy Week, we are treated to quite a variety of Scripture readings. These excerpts help us walk with Jesus through Jerusalem, to the place of crucifixion, to the place of burial and to the empty tomb. Much of the readings for Easter have to do with various people who give witness to the events they have seen and to the empty tomb.
Those who have experienced the death of a loved one may recognize what the disciples and friends of Jesus were going through. The death of a loved one redefines and reorients our lives; it changes our perception of what we have shared with that person. We cling to what we knew of him or her, and sometimes fail to live in the present moment because of the depth of our grief.
When the women went to Jesus’ tomb, they experienced something totally different than what they expected. The body is gone, messengers appear to them and the Scriptures tell us that they had various reactions. Some were frightened, some were confused and some were overcome with disappointment and fear. They decided to share the message that they had been given, as well as their confusion and fright. Sometimes we wait to give witness to our experience of Jesus or of His absence because it’s not well put together. However, our somewhat confused witness can lead another person to seek clarification. That is what happened with the friends and disciples of Jesus.
One of Jesus’ friends was so grief-stricken that she was simply wandering through the garden, unsure what to think or feel. Because she saw Jesus die, she never expected Him to be on earth with her again. That must’ve been part of her inability to recognize Him until He spoke her name. Imagine the joy and confusion that she experienced. Instead of keeping it to herself, she goes and shares it with others who are then led to witness for themselves.
Whether the friends and disciples of Jesus were disillusioned and walking on the road back to their hometown, or if their disillusionment brought them back to their fishing boats, Jesus found them, showed Himself to them and revived their hope. In our celebration of Easter, the same possibilities are presented to each of us. We bring the extended experience of dying during Lent to the experience and witness of those who were with Jesus when He lived, died and rose again. Would we like to experience renewed life, or have we given up the hope of that ever happening? Are we so satisfied with our current life that we refuse to risk an even greater joy by entering more deeply into relationship with Jesus?
Easter is a season, not just a Sunday. It extends all the way to the feast of Pentecost. In our liturgical year, we claim that every Sunday is a little Easter. So instead of having just one day on which we hide eggs, share candy and gather with others for a meal, let’s have the courage to extend Easter for many weeks and bring the hope of renewed life with us each and every day.
During Lent, we are encouraged to pray, fast and share our resources with others. What will be our Easter season practices that will extend the gift of new life both within ourselves and to others? Do we have a witness that we could share with others, especially those who seem to be without hope? Could that witness be wordless? Could we be a faithful companion with someone who is struggling to see the light in the midst of darkness? Could we visit a person who is sick or imprisoned? Could we seek out someone with whom we have been holding a grudge and ask for their forgiveness? Let’s find a way to extend the resurrection into our daily lives.
Father Donald Wester is retired and serves as lecturer of homiletics at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary.
