Easter Hope

With all the hate, devastation, and violence in our world, it is hard to really comprehend the joy of Easter fully. We want to experience the glory and hope of the resurrection, but it sometimes seems hard to really see around us.

Certainly we can identify with the apostles’ fear and despair after the devastating crucifixion on Good Friday. Not only were their hopes and dreams crushed, but they feared for their lives. Locked in the upper room, they wondered what the future would hold. When the women came back from Jesus’ tomb and found it empty, they were not sure what that meant at first.

We at least have the assurance of the resurrection. We believe that Christ rose on the third day and that he continues to be with us. Jesus has overcome his excruciating death on the cross and lives again. We feel his presence in the Eucharist, in the wonders of the natural world, in the faces of each person we meet, especially the poor and persecuted. Jesus assured his followers: “Do not be afraid. I will be with you.”

It takes faith to really comprehend this in our daily lives. Even though there is still evil in the world we believe that good will be victorious in the end. Signs of new life are all around us when we have eyes to see. Every year when the earth seems dead and lifeless, new growth appears again. Every time we feel like our spirits are dead, God often sends someone or some experience to bring us back to life. With the new discoveries in medical science, people who formerly would have died often can now regain their health.

The antiphon in the Easter liturgy is a reminder of this wondrous mystery: “Awake you who sleep. Arise from the dead, and Christ will shine upon you.” We need to hang on to this anchor of hope and know we will not be disappointed.

Barbara Mayer, OSB