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EASTER - Now More Than Ever

We are an Easter people, and Easter is not a day out of the year but a full assent to the good news of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We are in the "season" of Easter, the 50 days of the church's liturgical year that culminates in the celebration of Pentecost, this year on May 30. Easter is not an event, but a call to understanding ourselves and our world in relation to our acceptance of the paschal mystery of Christ's life, death and resurrection. At liturgy this Easter season, we hear the Gospel of John proclaimed. The post-Resurrection events are recounted. It begins with Mary Magdalene who weeps alone at the empty tomb. Two angels ask her why she is weeping. "They have taken my Lord and I don't know where they have laid him." Mary then turns and sees Jesus standing there, "but did not know it was Jesus." (Jn 20:11)

John's gospel reports a series of post-Resurrection appearances of Jesus to those closest to him. His appearance to Mary has elements similar to all of Christ's post-resurrection appearance, notably that he is physically present but not recognized at first. John attempts to communicate to us that Jesus is truly present, but somehow altered. It is only when Jesus speaks Mary's name, that she clearly recognizes him as "Rabbouni." It is in the profound simplicity of human interaction and exchange that Christ is revealed. Christ reveals himself to us, his friends and disciples, in a way that is personal and accessible. Then, Christ gives Mary a mission. She must go and announce to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord." She is the first witness to the resurrection.

Further on, Christ appears to the "seven disciples" and, again, is not recognized fully until he prepares breakfast for them over a charcoal fire on the shore. (Jn 21; 9-14) He is not "spirit" but a human being, existing in the physical world, yet, altered. He enters rooms locked in fear and offers "peace." (Jn 20; 19) In all these appearances Jesus offers comfort yet also makes demands. There is the need to communicate to his grieving followers that their work, His work, continues, and that life means continuing to spread the Good News and build up the Reign of God. In contemporary terms…get on with it! Follow my teachings. Lower the nets. Do the work. With the comfort comes the challenge. They are always together.

This Easter Season message should resonate with all of us in VOTF. We are an Easter people, but have we been alert to the powerful presence of the Risen Christ in our midst? What have we done with the "Alleluia" of Easter? Have we allowed ourselves to be comforted? Have we allowed the pain, discomfort and anger that brought VOTF into existence grow into recognition of Christ in our midst? Do we live out our assent to the good news of the resurrection of Jesus Christ? What Christ offers is "peace." It is out of this "peace" that hope is born and nourished. Do we allow hope to flourish? How powerful it would be to live and act out of our knowledge and experience of the Risen Christ. We do bring this faith to all our work at Voice of the Faithful, but do we allow this faith to energize and lead us? It is because we have individually and collectively experienced the presence of the Risen Christ in our movement that we have been able to move forward with certainty and conviction. Christ at the center - it is the only way. Christ has appeared to us and continues to be in our midst. Will we recognize him? We are blessed with God's faithfulness to us, but we must, in turn, truly BE FAITHFUL to experience and make present the power of the Risen Christ. Susan S. Troy, MDiv.

 

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In the Vineyard
May 2004
Volume 3, Issue 5

Page One

Survivor Support Working Group

Before Your Parish Closes

Couldn't Make It?

Parish Voice News

Letters to the Editor

Commentary - Lay Engagement in Your Diocese

Events, Opportunities & News

Council Updates

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In the Vineyard Archives

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