Scripture:
Acts 2:14, 22-33
Matthew 28:8-15
Reflection:
"Then they went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce this to his disciples."
During this Octave of Easter (the eight day period from Easter Sunday until the Sunday following) the mystery of the risen Christ should penetrate our hearts with joy. Without fully opening our hearts to the emotions of Easter we are in danger of losing the deep richness of the experience.
Life is enhanced by our emotions. We all remember the days in our lives filled with great joy. Maybe it was the birth of a child, or a marriage, sometimes our joy is tied to an achievement like graduation. It can even be as simple as enjoying an ice cream sundae. We can also remember those days when we were overcome with immense fear. Perhaps it was when we lost a loved one, or moved to a strange city to begin a new life. If we were to view our lives as a series of events without any emotional reaction connected to them, we would lose the intense, indelible power of the experience. Emotions are what make life worth living. Mary of Magdala and Mary of James, also called the other Mary were fraught with emotions as they left the tomb. Certainly the emotion behind their declaration to the disciples had to be extraordinary.
Easter is a time of celebration; it is the promise of new life, the heart of our faith, the richest of joyous events! We can easily let the glory of Easter slip through our fingers as we worry about our secular duties. Remember to open your heart and "Rejoice!"
Angela Kwasinski, Planned Giving Director for Holy Cross Province Development Office.