Easter Monday is a day for reflection. After the great celebration of our risen Lord do we, can we, live on in remembrance of this pivotal event in all of our lives, in all of our history. Do we, can we, live in the eternal now amidst the always ephemeral presence of God. Can the present moment with its sorrows and joys be transformed by the ever presence of God’s love and grace freely given to us?
Perhaps as we are able to willingly pass grace and love to others. Giving not just to those who love us, but also to those others who are not so close, even as Jesus thought us. Can we pray for our enemies, or even those who are just the ugly, unloveable, annoying or strange?
The means for such a radical transformation from what seems natural in human terms to what is natural in terms of the sacred is the mingling of our souls and bodies with the real presence of God in Jesus Christ. Our faith, as shared and taught by St. Paul who was himself transformed by the resurrected Christ, is the reality that, by faith Jesus is in us. When we accept Him as Lord we become new creatures. We are no longer merely human. As Justin Martyr proclaimed, ‘He became as we are so that we might become as He is.”
We all know there can be many “voices” in our mind and soul. By faith the one we must attend to is the voice of Jesus. It is very much like our voice of conscience. It is the voice of Jesus asking us difficult questions and pointing us in the direction of what is right, good, and loving.
Resurrection Sunday calls us, (as does every other Sunday celebration of the same) to Eucharist, (Thanksgiving). We give thanks for the life, sacrificial death, and resurrection of Jesus. We give thanks because that life, death, and resurrection is ours as well. We live. We were crucified with Christ. We share in His eternal life, even now.
There is a continuing war between the forces of evil and death versus the power of love and life. From the beginning of the Church Jesus has been called Christus Victor (Christ Victorious). He has won the war. The battles that continue are of no eternal consequence. We too can be victorious over all the battles with evil and death that assail us day to day.
Tragedy and malevolence need not destroy us though they may assail us. We have, what St. Paul calls The Armor of God to protect us.
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:10 -17
There is also good advice given in 2 Peter 3:18
18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
We do not necessarily grow through effort. Yet, even the natural maturing of our bodies is aided by nutrition and exercise. Like wise our faith and spiritual maturity grows as it is “fed and exercised.” We need to read, study and meditate on the Bible. We need to be in regular communion with God through prayer and mediation. It is also helpful to have spiritual guides to help us on our journey of faith. The Promise Keepers movie teach that we ought to have a Paul and a Timothy. That is, we need some one to mentor us even as we mentor someone else. Of course true for women as well.
These are my thought on this Resurrection Monday 2024. In addition to considering these words I encourage you to do the same.
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