Easter Joy

We in New England are awaking to sunshine after a cold, gloomy, rainy Holy Saturday, which lent itself to silence and a chance to slow down. Now, even the weather "has risen"! I had the grace to attend two Easter Vigils last night...each with a strong sense of joy flowing from the resurection of Jesus, and the renewal of our baptismal promises. Yet each had its own flavor and were distinctly different from each other. One was exuberant and almost "over the top" with excitement as two people were baptized right in front of us, and a dozen were confirmed and made their First Holy Communion; the other was dignified and solemn, where the joy was contained and filtered gradually to the climactic and awsome truth that Jesus was risen, and we who have been baptized with him in his death, have also risen. It was clear that there are many approaches to acknowledging and celebrating this truth. I thought of my friend Anthony and his men in Afgahnistan, and how their celebration, perhaps just a barebones, simple liturgy, must have been full of faith and love in that dangerous spot, as they clung with all their might to what is essential. Each one of us sees Easter in his or her own way, yet it is the same truth. Before we go to Easter Sunday Mass, perhaps an egg hunt with children, and share jelly beans or a chocolate bunny, we might take a moment to reflect on one of the opening prayers to be offered at Mass:
God our Father, creator of all, today is the day of Easter Joy. This is the morning on which the Lord appeared to men who had begun to lose hope and opened their eyes to what the Scriptures foretold: that first he must die, and then he would rise and ascend into his Father's glorious presence. May the risen Lord breathe on our minds and open our eyes that we may know him in the breaking of bread and follow him in his risen life. Amen--Alternative Opening Prayer for Easter Sunday.
Happy Easter!