Life After a Sunday

TERESITA TANSECO-CRUZ

We are an Easter people.

There is a beautifully graphic reminder of this at the Church of the Holy Sacrifice in Quezon City, Philippines, where the huge Cross hanging over the altar shows a Crucified Christ on one side and a Risen Christ on the other.

Indeed, we are part of Christ lifeless on the Cross as well as Christ gloriously resurrected. Yet in times of deep anxiety or grave disappointment, we may wonder where God has gone, much like the disciples on the road to Emmaus – feeling disheartened and abandoned, yet “hearts burning” unexplainably as Jesus walked and talked with them unrecognized.

Earlier, at Christ’s empty tomb, the distraught Mary Magdalene first thought Jesus was the gardener, but she had the advantage of hearing him utter one loaded word to her: “Mary”. What profuse joy and solace her sudden recognition of him must have brought!

I imagine how it is to just hear Jesus call my name with that singularly intimate knowledge of who I am, to the last sinew and heartbeat of my being…to be unquestionably guaranteed that I am his, loved from the very beginning, now and beyond all time.

And yet… wrapped as Mary was in her euphoric reunion with Jesus, he told her not to cling to him, sending her to tell the others that he had not yet ascended to “my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” (John 20: 15-18). Jesus apparently was telling Mary: Now that you know we’re home safe, we have some fantastic work to do!

I believe that in our life after Easter Sunday, we are like Mary, called to spread the news of the Resurrection. And consider what powerful “armament” Christ sends us off with: assuring us absolutely that his Father is OUR Father! That means we are God’s Own, and nobody is talking about abandonment! Christ takes that further and asks us to love one another as He has loved us…to serve one another, especially those at the borderlines of society’s landscape, just as he had shown us, so that we can all claim the place reserved for each one of us in the compassionate circle of his love.

May we pray then, for our hearts to keep “burning” as Jesus accompanies us on our way to Emmaus, even if sometimes we don’t recognize Him, hampered by some blurry visions or scattered dispositions.

In the days ahead, as we resolve to guard and live TRUTH in our lives – in solid community with one another and for our precious, beloved country, may we pray and choose to be Peaceful but never Passive, Vigilant but never Combative.

Just like any loyal disciple on a mission with Christ.

Because we are his Easter people.