April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
REFLECTION
Easter joy continues
Since the Easter season is 50 days - 10 days longer than Lent - the Church emphasized the importance of continuing the celebration.
Hopefully, as you read the resurrection accounts, your sorrow turned to joy with Mary Magdalene as you embraced the risen Christ. Like Peter, you experienced the forgiveness of Jesus. And you recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread, as did the disciples at Emmaus.
How can we keep Easter joy and the power of the resurrection alive in our hearts? At the Last Supper, Jesus promised, "Whatever you ask the Father, He will give you in my name. Ask and you shall receive, that your joy may be full" (John 16:23-24).
The Apostles did rejoice that their Lord had risen. Before Pentecost, they were like a car without gas: They weren't going anywhere. With their "tank filled" and their courage restored by the Holy Spirit, they baptized 3,000 people that day (Acts 2:41)!
Imagine the Pentecost experience: You've traveled hundreds of miles for the feast. You expect to converse in Hebrew, the common language. Suddenly, you hear the Apostles boldly proclaiming God's love and power in Arabic, Greek or your native tongue.
Their fearlessness is contagious! You feel led to walk with Peter, Paul and the others as you live what Pope Paul VI called the "mission proper to the Church": evangelism!
The Apostles found joy in witnessing to Jesus' resurrection, and so can we. Resurrection is the final word for Jesus and for us, too - but not just in heaven. Joy comes spontaneously if we cultivate it.
Jesus gives us the sacraments as a means to joy. The Eucharist nourishes us at Mass and in adoration. Since, as St. Augustine says, "We become what we receive," then the more we receive Jesus, the more we share in the victory of His risen life.
Do we accept that we're sinners and need a Savior? The sacrament of reconciliation frees us from sin. Cleansed and healed, we can rejoice in God's mercy. We're lighter without the baggage!
The transforming power of the cross brings joy. God brings good out of bad: a new opportunity opens after losing a job; the end of a relationship allows a new one to blossom.
St. Paul wrote, "All things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to his purpose" (Rom. 8:28). God is bigger than the sin in our world. Joy is a testimony to our hope in God.
Recently, we asked children in our Junior Youth Group if they feel happy when they wake up. Surprisingly, many said "no."
We encouraged the children to thank God each morning and praise Him. Angels and saints sing praises to God constantly. None of us have wings or halos, but that shouldn't stop us from joining in the heavenly chorus.
Celebrate all of life as if it were Easter. It is!
(Maeve Smith is a LAMP missionary at the Shrine Church of Our Lady of the Americas in Albany. Glenn Smith does one-man performances of "A Visit with St Paul." See previous stories at www.evangelist.org.)[[In-content Ad]]
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