Seasonal Reflection

Seasonal Reflection: Easter, 2019

Reflecting on Peace
Why do you seek the living one among the dead?
He is not here, but he has been raised.

We have heard this message from “two men” to the women who came to Jesus’s tomb so many times that it may have become mundane to us. Of course, Jesus is risen. Alleluia (no exclamation point). But let’s remember that the women and his other followers certainly did not take this pronouncement for granted. No matter how many times Jesus tried to prepare them for it, they couldn’t comprehend it. Instead, when it finally happened, they are described as being terrified, confused, and amazed. And wouldn’t we be, too? Shouldn’t we still be? Is it really true? Could it be? Do we really believe? There are actually many explanations for what might have really happened. But let’s move beyond intellectual speculations.

If we are Christians, we believe that Jesus was truly raised from the dead, as he raised others from the dead during his ministry. The miracle of the Resurrection is a tremendous gift of hope for us. We always refer to it as light overcoming the dark, life overcoming death, God’s immeasurable goodness conquering evil. It is an affirmation of Jesus and all who place their (our) faith in him. These are the blessings of the Resurrection, but let us not forget perhaps the most important reason Resurrection is so invaluable: Jesus’s life before it.

As noted, Jesus raised others from the dead, but we do not remember them except for the fact that Jesus raised them. We do not know what happened to the widow’s son or the little girl or even Lazarus after Jesus brought them back to earthly life. Why remember Jesus? It was precisely because of his life and lessons to us. Without these, his resurrection might not have been so noteworthy.

So, as we celebrate Easter, let’s remember Jesus’s teachings, and let’s honor him by following them. Let us strive to love God with all our being, to love our neighbors as ourselves, and to love our enemies—now there’s the challenge! Let us commit to opposing social, political, and economic injustices as he did. Let us stand up for the poor, the sick, the oppressed, and the stranger. Let us refuse to resort to violence to impose our will on others. Let us learn and teach peacemaking skills to resolve conflicts locally and globally. Let us risk our comfort and safety to speak truth to power. These are what Jesus did. These are what we, too, must do to earn the title Christian.

We say we are a Resurrection People. Let it be so by how we live, so we can share in the Resurrection when we die.

Prayer

Blest are you, Lord Jesus who came to us a little child
one of us, flesh and blood to share in our humanity
For God so loved the world
ALL: That all might have eternal life

Blest are you, Lord Jesus who came to us as carpenter
and yet in whose creative hands a world was fashioned
For God so loved the world
ALL: That all might have eternal life

Blest are you, Lord Jesus who came to us as fisherman
and yet pointed to a harvest that was yet to come
For God so loved the world
ALL: That all might have eternal life

Blest are you, Lord Jesus who came to us as teacher
and opened eyes to truths that only
the poor could understand
For God so loved the world
ALL: That all might have eternal life

Blest are you, Lord Jesus who came to us as healer
and opened hearts to the reality of wholeness
For God so loved the world
ALL: That all might have eternal life

Blest are you, Lord Jesus who came to us as prophet, priest and king
and yet humbled himself
to take our place upon the cross
For God so loved the world
ALL: That all might have eternal life

Blest are you, Lord Jesus who came to us as servant
and revealed to us the extent of his Father's love
for human kind
For God so loved the world
ALL: That all might have eternal life

Blest are you, Lord Jesus, who rose
from the ignominy of a sinner's death
to the triumph of a Saviour's resurrection
For God so loved the world
ALL: That all might have eternal life

Read more at: http://www.faithandworship.com/prayers_Easter.htm#ixzz5kubLLfw1
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution

Suggested Actions

- Wallow in the joy and promise of Easter. Imagine yourself at the empty tomb and try to feel the mystery and excitement of the women who went to anoint Jesus’s body only to find it gone. Stay with them as they come to realize the miracle of Jesus’s Resurrection. If necessary, awaken or re-awaken your own awe at this amazing gift of God.
- Reflect on Jesus’s life that brought him to this place of extraordinary honor. Use the prayer above to remember all the roles he played throughout his life that are a model for ourselves. We may not be able to raise anyone from the dead in a literal way, but we can raise their spirits with our own Christ-like behavior.
- Choose from the reflection above one way you can: strive to love God with all your being, to love your neighbors as yourself, to love your “enemy;” to oppose a social, political, or economic injustice; to stand up for the poor, the sick, the oppressed, or a stranger; to refuse to resort to violence to impose your will on another; to learn and teach peacemaking skills to resolve a conflict in your personal life; or to risk your comfort and safety to speak truth to power.
- Help us honor Peacemakers on Sunday afternoon, June 2nd, at Xavier H.S. See the Events page or contact us for more details.
- Join and stay on top of things through PCMNY’s email action alert network and online at our: website, Facebook page, and Twitter account.

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Reflection Archives

2019: Lent Winter 2018: Christmas Advent Ordinary Time Fall Summer Easter Lent Ordinary Time 2017: Christmas Advent Summer