‘Celebrate Easter every day of our lives’

My dear family in Christ,

There is an old saying that “life is a marathon, not a sprint,” meaning that we have to keep in mind the long game when it comes to the bigger things in life. We have to address things in a measured way so that we don’t too easily burn ourselves out and lose interest.

This phrase came to mind as I was pondering my musing on this the sixth Sunday of Easter as I asked myself if I have maintained my own enthusiasm and joy about celebrating the resurrection of Jesus over the last 35 days, or if I burned myself out in the first couple weeks. It is a question we can all ask ourselves: Are we still rejoicing in Christ’s victory over sin and death or have we moved on to other things? I’m not sure I have a solution to this yearly challenge. Fifty days is a long time to celebrate anything, but I thought I would try to offer some advice to maintain or recapture Easter joy.

First, look around and notice the rebirth happening all around us. Flowers are blooming. More and more birds are making their presence known as they build nests and prepare for their broods. It stays light much longer each day. We are preparing our gardens for seeds and seedlings anticipating the reward of our labors on our dinner tables later in the year. Life is on display as a reminder of the life gained for us by the Lord. The darkness of winter has led to spring and soon into summer; Christ’s journey to death now leads us to life eternal. The world around us echoes the victory of Christ.

Next, take some time to re-read the scriptures of the Easter season and note the dismay and defeat of the apostles giving way to disbelief and eventually a convicted belief that Jesus was alive. Read the powerful sermons of St. Peter and the adventures of St. Paul to rekindle our own enthusiasm for the remainder of the Easter season. What happened in their lives is happening in our lives. Christ lives for us today, here and now!

Finally, start preparing now for the end of the Easter season with our celebration of Pentecost.  The birth of the Church, the coming of the Holy Spirit, the commissioning to “go out to all the world and tell the Good News.” Consider a Novena to the Holy Spirit beginning on Ascension Thursday, asking for the specific intention of a lively and persevering faith in the resurrection of the Savior. Just as the Holy Spirit was able to transform the lives of the apostles, the Spirit can transform our lives if we are open to this possibility.

The real challenge for us is not to celebrate Easter for 50 days, but to celebrate it every day of our lives because the resurrection changed everything. May the Spirit of God fill our hearts with that same zeal and joy it gave the early Church so that we might share with the world the best news ever: He is risen, alleluia! He is truly risen, alleluia!

In the risen Christ,

Msgr. John J. McDermott

Diocesan Administrator