Easter. It is upon us again, this holiest time of the year.
Holy, Holy, Holy. Because Easter is many things in a holy harmony of atonement. And if we break that word down it becomes at-one-ment, and that is why Easter is a deeply pietistic festival of communion that celebrates suffering and sacrifice, death and resurrection, and new life in a harmony of atonement.
Easter is a commemoration of events that begin on Holy Thursday: significantly, the Last Supper and the act of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples. Holy Thursday is also called Maundy Thursday in some countries, the word “maundy” derived from the Latin mandatum, or commandment, referring to Jesus’s bidding to his disciples: “I give you a new commandment”.
It was a commandment to serve all in humility and with love, because through great humility comes great service and great glory. Jesus showed the way by the washing the feet of his disciples, an act normally performed only by slaves. By humbling himself he taught the value of service and love to others.
Yet among his disciples there was one who was ready to betray him to the Romans. His name was Judas and he did it for 30 pieces of silver on the night of Holy Thursday when Jesus led his disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane.
Captured by the Romans, Jesus was condemned to be crucified on the day that we call Good Friday.
What is the meaning of the crucifixion? Nailed to the cross, flanked by two thieves on either side, beaten and spit upon and scourged, body drawn taut with extreme agony, Jesus cried out: “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” Till the very end, in the ultimate act of sacrifice for the sins of the world, Jesus chose forgiveness in an act of prayer for reconciliation, for atonement. Therein lies the mystery and the majesty of Easter.
It lies also in what followed when at the greatest height of his agony, Jesus cried out: “My God, why hast Thou forsaken me?” Was this a moment of weakness? Was he actually abandoned? Or was he quoting the lines from Psalms 22: “My God, my God why hast Thou forsaken me? For from my deliverance are the words of my groaning.” If so, it was not a cry of abandonment but an affirmation of deliverance.
And this leads us to what Jesus said next as he lay dying on the cross: “It is finished”. Is it significant that this phrase is important in the Jewish ceremony on the Day of Atonement? It is spoken by the priest to signify that the sins of the people have been forgiven. This reiterates that the ultimate act of sacrifice was the ultimate act of atonement, for Jesus’s death on the cross is the redemption of mankind.
These are the things that we reflect on in the celebration of Easter. Are we willing to sacrifice our good for the good of others without stint? Have we learned the virtue of forgiveness and reconciliation, for as Jesus said: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” (John 12:24).
So it is that the fruits of Good Friday mature on the days that follow reaching a final sublimation on Easter Sunday when Jesus rose up from the dead, a resurrection which is at the core of the Christian faith.
St Paul says: “If Jesus was not raised from the dead, then our preaching and hope are in vain”(1 Corinthians: 15:14). After the crucifixion, the disciples, initially overcome with guilt and doubt and fear, were galvanised by Jesus’s miraculous resurrection to a new and glorious life beyond time and space and the understanding of mortal beings.
Easter is truly a time to reflect on the infinite mystery of the resurrection. This is a time of rebirth and renewal. New life springs up in the natural world. So must it be with us. Easter is an opportunity to re-enact the miracle in ourselves by dying to our old selfish self to be reborn into a life of love, sacrifice and service with humility and forgiveness. Only then can we come together as one to share in the joy of this momentous occasion of new life, renewed by God.
Easter is a time when we are reminded of the power of hope, of the possibility of new beginnings. As we look back at the challenges and difficulties of the past, we can draw strength from the message of Easter, that even in the darkest of hours, hope is always there for us.
The pandemic has brought many challenges and changes to our lives, and it has made us appreciate the simple pleasures of life very deeply. It has also made us more aware of the importance of community and connection, and the ways in which we can support one another through difficult times. As we celebrate Easter 2024, let us remember the lessons of the past pandemic years, and continue to hold onto hope for a brighter future to come.
The gift of Easter is peace, the peace that only God can bestow. Life has its many struggles, sufferings, tribulations. Easter is a beacon guiding us with the light of hope that sorrow, pain and anguish can be overcome simply because of our faith in God and in his power to help us prevail. And when we do, we will feel the deepest peace coming from God himself. Such peace is a glimpse of the peace and joy of eternal life such as is assured us by the miracle of Easter.
Easter is a time to celebrate the beauty of life and its joys. It is a time to cherish the relationships that are most valuable to us. Whether we celebrate this Easter in a traditional religious setting or in our own unique and personal way, let us take a moment to appreciate the many blessings in our lives, and to share the love and joy of this special occasion with those around us.
Let us thank God for all His Blessings and pray for a new life of joy and hope for us and for all.
Happy Easter to all.
Rev Fr Dr Dominic Savio SJ is principal, St Xavier’s College (Autonomous)
