Happy Easter!
Christ is risen! Alleluia!
The Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, which primarily focus on Scripture, famously begin the contemplations of the Resurrection with something that isn’t recorded in Scripture: the Risen Christ appears to His Blessed Mother. This isn’t some pious idea that Ignatius thought would be nice to begin his Easter meditations with; rather, it’s a logical conclusion that many theologians have come to over the centuries. Saint John Paul II said that “it is legitimate to think that the Mother was probably the first person to whom the risen Jesus appeared. Could not Mary’s absence from the group of women who went to the tomb at dawn indicate that she had already met Jesus?” Scripture alludes to many moments, recorded and unrecorded, of Jesus appearing to different people. In fact, Ignatius suggests 13 of them. But of course, Jesus would begin by visiting His Blessed Mother, who followed Him His entire life! Meanwhile, the others arrive at the empty tomb.
What an incredible, albeit confusing, moment for the disciples that Easter morning! To come to a place of such pain and anguish, only to find it vacated and tidied up. And Jesus is nowhere to be found. He’s out and about, running his errands, visiting and bringing the joy of His Resurrection to numerous people. He didn’t waste any time getting started with this. In some of these instances, the others do not even recognize Him, making the realization and surprise that much more exciting! How He must delight in watching us realize who He is!
We are not excluded from these joyful meetings! How might Jesus be appearing to you today? Is He hanging around, waiting for you to recognize Him? As we enter into the Easter season, I invite you to reflect on how the joy of the Easter season is present in your life. How do you intend to celebrate the gift of Christ’s Resurrection? There may be 40 days of Lent, but we have 50 days of Easter! Because we are an Easter people, and so the Lenten season only makes sense in the light of the Resurrection.
Here is my prayer for you this blessed season: that Christ may ambush you with the joy of His Resurrection, so that you can rejoice with Him, with Our Blessed Mother Mary, and with all the saints. He suffered for you and died for you. And He also rose for you and now lives for you.
-Br. Andrew
