A very happy Easter Day to you—today we celebrate glory and life even in the middle of international pain and heartache. Today is the reason for our hope and needed optimism: do not be concerned if that glass is half empty or half full, be thankful you have a glass in the first place! Today we are given an account of pure faith in Mark's gospel, a faith that we are invited to share. Mary of Magdala and her friends are the first people to reach the tomb where Jesus was laid on Good Friday; they do not witness the event of resurrection but are witnesses to its effect: an empty tomb. In their grief and pain, they are told by the angels, the traditional messengers of God, to proclaim the Good News of the Resurrection. They are told to tell the Apostles that they can meet Jesus back in Galilee. The Joy of the Resurrection leads they back to their comfort zone: they can experience Resurrection in their home.

In these difficult times of pain and confusion, we need to share the faith of Mary, Peter, and the disciples. We can all share the role of the disciple: these times have tested our faith and a belief in a good God. In these days, more than ever, we need the energy of the disciples who will meet Jesus at home. We need that faithful energy to see us through the problems that life will throw at us even in the best of times; we need that energy to refresh our faith and belief on this Easter Morning.

Like Mary, Peter, and the disciple, we have experienced suffering, if only through the nightly news. Even in the middle of crucifixion and death, Jesus could not take away the evil that was in the world, because out of that evil comes also the freedom to choose what is good: freedom is the gift that he promised us, and freedom is the gift that he gives us. What he wants us to understand is we are free, and the great gift of freedom means we are capable of love. Without freedom there is no love. Without love there is no such thing as freedom. The life of Jesus and the meaning of his passion, death, and resurrection has been impacting people ever since those days, more and more people every year. If you throw a stone into a pond, it will cause a ripple to spread out more and more until eventually is gets to the edges of the pond and the entire pond has been affected. The graces of the death and resurrection of Jesus have been spreading out to more and more people ever since. The truth is that, through the glory of resurrection, we find him in each other. Easter joy is seen in simple kindness towards one another; Easter light is seen the ordinary: the friendly chat, the weekly zoom call, the 'cheeky cuppa' or choosing to spend time with those who need our care and attention. John O'Donohue has the words to help us in our own search to find the risen Lord.

We don't realise all the good we can do. A kind, encouraging word or helping hand can bring many a person through dark valleys in their lives. We weren't put here to make money or to acquire status or reputation. We were sent here to search for the light of Easter in our hearts, and when we find it, we are meant to give it away generously. ('Walking in the Pastures of Wonder')

Author: Fr Gerry O'Shaughnessy SDB

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash