Jesus wants us to “remain in his love.” The joy that we experience during this Easter time comes from a new place. We normally live in the status quo. We perform through habits that we have repeated over and over again. These habits have become so engrained that we barely know we are doing them such as our morning ritual of waking up and preparing for the day. Easter joy can happen when we step out of the usual into something brand new. The resurrected Jesus still has the old wounds, but now they symbolize his rising a to new way of being.
Is there anything new about our lives’ having experienced the drama of Holy Week? Have you the courage and patience to try something new? Life presents opportunities all of the time because we do not live in a static world. Our planet is spinning at a great speed. Things that we thought were permanent can change. Our situation in life can take on something new to consider such as a change in health and change in our relationships in family and in work. We can either approach these changes with anxiety or with reflexibility looking for the joy that Jesus offers us through grace. His resurrection offers us the fullness of life that he promised. His joy can truly be our own.
- Have you experienced joy after trying something new?
- Are you flexible when new situations come into your life?
- How does Easter joy become possible through your faith?
O God, help me experience the Easter joy that you promised.