Jubilee Year 2025- We are Pilgrims of Hope

An Easter with Hope

“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen”.(Lk 24:5). Easter is a festival, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, a powerful symbol of Hope. Amidst the uncertainty and darkness of a world plagued by suffering and injustice, Easter shines out as a beacon of light, reminding us that hope is never lost.

Through His resurrection, Jesus announced the whole world that He is truly raised from the dead and He is God. The present pains, sorrows, wars, persecution, reign of death and disasters in all spheres are not the last word, but great glory awaits us after them. Even today’s greatest affliction is trivial before it, (Rom 8:18) and Jesus assures us that there is life beyond death.

The resurrection of the Lord is the fulfillment of a prophecy of Jesus who said that He would rise on the 3rd day after His death. He is the one who has promised us eternal life (Jn 11:25) and His Word is true. As we reflect upon the Easter mystery, we see that there is a God who wipes our tears beyond our comprehension. He is the Lord who entered into glory after enduring pain and death. His resurrection foreshadows the invisible immortality that is to come to us. All four Evangelists talk about Jesus’ resurrection. (Mt.28:1-10, Mk.16:1-8, Lk. 24:1-12, Jn.20:1-10). Jesus has risen as He said and defeated Satan and death. The resurrection accounts are the response to those who denied the resurrected Christ and a testimony of the faith of the community that believed in His resurrection.

It is the resurrection of Jesus Christ that gives value and hope to the Christian life. In other word, this feast has become the cornerstone of the promise of a new and eternal life in Him. All the versions of resurrection have a shadow of strangeness. Mary Magdalene who stood weeping outside the tomb thinking of her “Guru” could not recognize Him when she met Him in the garden. She thought He was the gardener. (Jn 20:15). The two disciples to Emmaus walked and talked with Him for a long time, the risen Christ remained a stranger to them. (Lk 24:16). Jesus’ disciples at the Tiberius also understood the risen Lord as a stranger who told them to lower the net to the right side of the boat. (Jn.21:6). But a closer look at these events shows that this strangeness reveals the resurrection mystery. Mary heard the voice of Jesus and knew it was Christ. That is the 1st way to know God is the Word itself. The disciples of Emmaus recognized Him when He took the bread, blessed it and gave it to them (Lk 24:31). Then it is clear that the next way to recognize Jesus is the Sacraments. The disciples of Tiberius recognized the Lord when they saw the net full of 153 fish. A net full of 153 fish is a symbol of a traditional Church. Thus the great truth is revealed that we should seek the risen Lord in the Word, Sacraments and in the Church. Easter is the Feast of Feast. It is the central point of our faith. It marks the conclusion of salvation history and challenge that He is the creator and ruler of all things and defying material forces and death.

The risen Christ reminds us of many things. Easter is the day when the world realizes that sorrow will give way to joy, sore wound will shine like star light, closed graves will be opened and the hidden truth will be uncovered, and falsehood will end. No one can avoid God for ever. History teaches us that, movement, ideology, nations and cultures that excluded God, have miserably fallen. The truth about Christ’s event none can deny. Not friends but enemies guarded the testimony of the resurrection. The Jewish soldiers sealed the stone and guarded the tomb. Thus God testified the resurrection of His Son through His enemies. That is, the world fears Christ and Christians then and now. The Christians are persecuted in every way. But history testifies that none of this can eliminate or completely destroy Christians. Where ever they are persecuted, the Christian faith is preached with great zeal. Many are converted to Christianity and the Church grows faster, since the Risen Lord said, “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Mt. 28:20). Fulfilling the Promise, the Lord works with them and confirms the Word with signs.

In a world filled with challenges and uncertainties, Easter encourages us to hold on to hope and bear witness to the Risen Christ.

Wish you all a Happy Easter!

Sr Neysa Fernandez CCR