Our Lenten journey began on Ash Wednesday when we took up our crosses together with Him to walk in his footsteps. We witnessed his triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. He then showed true love, stewardship and humility on Holy Thursday when he washed our feet. On Good Friday, He gave the ultimate sacrifice – His life as He hung on the cross to redeem our sins. We now stand at the final steps of this journey in the empty tomb as we proclaim with Mary Magdelene “Jesus is Risen!” Death could not hold Him in the grave, light has prevailed and Jesus Christ has triumphed! All people are offered new and everlasting life in Him.
Easter is an invitation that calls everyone to lead their lives anew. St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians tells us that “if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come” (2 Cor 5:17). This means that we are not to be buried in our tomb of bad habits – formed by sin, addiction, doubts, judgement – but to be free and live joyful and meaningful lives that center on the presence of the Lord. As scripture tells us in Colossians 3:2, “Think of what is above, not of what is on earth.”. Through Jesus’ love and sacrifice, the price has been paid and we are set free.
We liken this transformation to ourselves during the Covid-19 period where we were unable to receive Jesus Christ physically in the Eucharist. During this time, we re-directed our focus from the physical Body of Christ and relied on His Word alone to receive Him in our hearts every week. The challenge came after the resumption of Eucharistic celebrations in church to not go back to our old ways of focusing on receiving the Eucharist but to continue our focus on His Word at the same time.
We might know of some who have drifted away from faith in our Father or those who are still trapped in the “tomb” of their old lives. As we celebrate this season of redemption, we are called to bring the lost sheep back to the fold and to live as Mary Magdelene did and go out to tell everyone the good news of the Risen Lord. In Mark 16:15, Jesus tells his disciples to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” This is done through an array of ordinary actions such as how we exemplify the Word of God in our every deed and word and how we treat those around us.
God wants us to live the Joy of Easter in our everyday lives – let our hearts be filled with the peace and hope that only the Resurrection brings. Jesus Christ is risen today and we sing
Anne Marie Lim and Maryanne Tong