The Resurrection of the Lord -- The Mass of Easter Day
By Beth DeCristofaro
When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb
and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not
with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple also went in, the one
who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. For they did not yet understand the Scripture
that he had to rise from the dead.
(John 20:8-9)
Piety
This is my prayer—
That, though I may not see,
I be aware
Of the Silent God
Who stands by me.
That, though I may not feel,
I be aware
Of the Mighty Love
Which doggedly follows me.
That, though I may not respond,
I be aware
That God—my Silent, Mighty God,
Waits each day.
Quietly, hopefully, persistently.
Waits each day and through each night
For me.
For me—alone. [i]
That, though I may not see,
I be aware
Of the Silent God
Who stands by me.
That, though I may not feel,
I be aware
Of the Mighty Love
Which doggedly follows me.
That, though I may not respond,
I be aware
That God—my Silent, Mighty God,
Waits each day.
Quietly, hopefully, persistently.
Waits each day and through each night
For me.
For me—alone. [i]
(Silent God, Edwina Gateley)
Study
Always I want to rush
to the Resurrection. Lent has become a
favorite season for me to slow down and reconnect spiritually, but in my heart
of hearts I know that He is Risen…and it’s sometimes hard to wait. So this beautiful Gospel passage is not my
favorite. I prefer the breathtaking
stories of Mary and the women greeted by angels or even recognizing the Risen
Lord. Their sorrow is upended by their
joy.
However, John’s words
speak to me of my reality which is that my understanding has been a slow
journey much like the women and the disciples who followed Jesus. I’ve had to be open in my walk, running at
times, to recognize God’s presence in those around me. I’ve needed to look and see for myself that
Jesus’ love exists even if I don’t see “him”.
I’ve had to accept that sorrow and loss are a part of life but that
wonder and hope exist in spite and sometimes within. I’ve learned to accept that answers do not
always exist for challenging questions.
I have begun to understand through the grace of faith and the faith of
my fellow seekers who also run to the tomb. I have come to appreciate that it is through
His love, His life, death and resurrection that I exist. And I have realized most importantly that
because He wills it I am always in the Lord’s presence even when I feel that
the tomb is empty.
Action
Look for an
opportunity, perhaps in a new situation which challenges you, to spread the
Alleluia of this day to someone in need.
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