What to do after Easter

It is natural, having come through six weeks of mortification, reconciliation and repentance, for Christians to celebrate Easter with joyous liturgies, chocolate bunnies and self-congratulation for having made it through another penitential season. All of that is certainly appropriate.

But what's next? If we backslide to what we were before Ash Wednesday and what we were is what we were trying to change, then Lent was only an interruption, not a reformation. The pause of Easter Sunday should be only that: a respite before continuing our renewed commitment to our faith.

That commitment should prolong many of the practices of Lent: additional time for prayer and Scripture...more attention to the state of our souls through reception of the sacraments...the sacrifice of our blessings of time and money for the less fortunate...and our willingness to seek reconciliation with others in our homes, extended families, workplaces and neighborhoods.

So, have a Happy Easter -- but remember that Sunday marks the beginning of the next stage of living our faith, not the end of Lent.