EASTER WAS INEVITABLE

    It is totally understandable that Jesus' resurrection was a surprise to his first followers.  How else could a frightened, despondent little group of apostles and disciples have felt when they realized that Jesus had conquered death itself?    

    Throughout the centuries, we have come to better understand what happened that first Easter morning.  The inevitability of Easter has become clear.  Easter has been there all the time.

   Let's go back--way back.  At the first moment of creation the newborn universe was dark and chaotic.  Immediately, the Spirit blew over the dark chaos and in a flash, there was light.  The newly evolving universe began moving from darkness to light, from death to resurrection.  Easter had begun.

   Note how the Bible describes the days of creation in terms of movement from darkness to light, from death to resurrection:  "and the evening and morning was the first, second, etc., day."  To the ancient Hebrews, darkness denoted chaos, and light denoted cosmos:  order and beauty.  (We use the word "cosmos" in our word, "cosmetics.")  Every day is a movement from death to resurrection, as is the movement from winter to spring.

   The ancient story of the flood is a story of stormy darkness and the resurrection of saving light.  So is the story of Jonah and the whale.  And especially, we have the starry night of Christmas, of Jesus' birth that made the bright morning of Easter inevitable.

   Easter is our guide from hopelessness and despair, even in the world's darkest moments.  In the Easter grace of Jesus' resurrection, we are able to evolve from our birth in imperfection, through our downfalls, to our own and society's constant resurrection in the loving arms of Divine Love.   

   Even now, in our space/time darkness, we already live in Easter.  To put it more clearly, even now, the eternal glory of Easter lives within us.  To those of us who have been blessed with eyes to see, the world, in fact the entire universe, is brightly alive with God's indwelling  presence.  Each Easter Sunday calls us anew to rejoice in Jesus' resurrected life and to work ever more diligently, one step at a time according to our talents and opportunities, to help make his wondrous, saving Spirit become more effective in ourselves, our families, communities, nations and the whole world.

   At Easter time, we look into the world, and see the glorious joy of eternal life, thanks to Jesus' resurrection, within all the peoples of the world, no matter how deeply it may be hidden.  In all of nature and in all the universe, we proclaim the Risen Jesus who is our eternal Truth and Life.





           


  

LENT: FASTING FROM CHOCOLATE, AND...

   Many of us give up chocolate for Lent.  This is a good traditional way to make a little sacrifice in preparation for Easter Sunday. Then, when we celebrate Jesus's resurrection from the dead we will also celebrate our own rising from our sins and weakness in the grace of the risen Jesus.  I would like to call our attention especially to the weakness of indifference to those we should care about every day.

   First a note:  Up to now, this blog has been read by people from 96 countries.  That's half the countries in the world!  My sincere thanks to everyone of you.  You elate my spirit every day!  My thoughts in this post will apply particularly to my American culture, with the trust that those of you around the world will apply what I suggest to your own culture.

   How about adding to our chocolate "sacrifice" by reaching out to a Muslim woman in the supermarket and saying to her that she enriches our country and our American soul, and wishing her peace?  How about smiling at a couple who have a baby or young children and wishing God's blessing upon them.  How about smiling at young people, no matter how they are dressed, and telling them they are beautiful both externally and internally, and wishing them great success in their studies and lives?

   How about getting actively involved in our government by contacting our legislators and saying strongly and respectfully that we fully expect them to vote for justice and peace for all people, with a special option for the poor, sick, vulnerable and outcast.  If they have acted well, let us thank them and encourage them to continue doing positive things for all the people.  If they have acted against justice and peace for all, let's tell them strongly and respectfully that they are not doing what they were elected to do. If they are afraid of not being reelected, let's ask them what good they expect to do while in office.

   And let us point out to our legislators that there are far too many people around the world who cannot approach their political leaders as we do, and urge them to do all that they can to bring such blessed freedom to all others.

   Many of us Americans have friends all over the country and even abroad but don't really know our neighbors.  To be Catholic is to be committed to wholeness.  A good Lenten "sacrifice" is to get to know our neighbors better, especially those who are needy.  And to work to make our neighborhood more friendly, and where necessary, more safe.  

   We Catholics are the People of Christ, our Savior who showed us how we should live our lives every day of the year.  So along with giving up chocolate for Lent, let us use Lent to remember anew that we are Catholics every day and every season of the year. 


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