Easter Sunday 2019

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Christ is Risen! Happy Easter!

When St. Ignatius invites us to pray with the Resurrection of the Lord, he invites us to “consider the office of consoler that Christ our Lord exercises, and compare it with the way in which friends are wont to console each other.”

The office of consoler! I’ve always liked that phrase. It sums up so much about the ways in which we could be so present to one another, if we shared our own consolation with those around us.

Let’s look at some of the ways in which the Resurrected Lord fulfills the office of consoler. Remember the experience of Mary Magdalene and the other Mary. They go to the tomb and are told that Jesus has been raised. Later, when they met him, he said, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee.” The women are among the first evangelists.

Jesus commissions the disciples to “Go, therefore and make disciples of all nations.” Offering consolation is associated with encouraging one another to not be fearful, but to go and spread the Good News to others.

The consolation from the Risen Jesus is a reminder of his abiding presence. What comforting words they are for people who are discouraged by the fearful reality of our world. “Be not be afraid. Remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” And this presence is one of peace. “Peace be with you.”

One of my favourite Resurrection stories is The Walk to Emmaus. I love how the eyes of the disciples were opened, so that they recognized the Risen Lord. “Were not our hearts burning within us, while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” They were sad at the start of the walk, but not after the fire is kindled.

They go forward and share their consolation and desire with their companions. Part of the consolation offered by the Lord is that of revelation and apostolic energy and enthusiasm. Their hearts were on fire.

Jesus continues to play that role, particularly through our actions. The ministry of consolation occurs when we release people from their fears, when we bring them peace, when we evangelize, when we help them to recognize Christ, and when we give them hope.

Most of us would love to live our lives in the spirit of the Resurrection. That’s not possible. Too much in our lives and the world conspires against that. That’s probably okay. If we were living in bliss, we would no longer have need for God.

Easter grace is elusive and hard to pin down. I think of it whenever I pray with the Canticle of Zechariah, from Luke’s Gospel: “In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

It’s important to let the Resurrection’s grace do what it did for the disciples heading to Emmaus: Let it set our hearts on fire!

Philip Shano, SJ has many years of rich and varied experience working with Ignatian spirituality: teaching, writing and using it in his ministry. He resides in the Jesuit community in Pickering, Ontario.

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2 Comments
  • John Montague
    Posted at 08:27h, 21 April Reply

    What I think about in Mary Magdalene’s discovery of the Resurrected Jesus is how He understands her personality. Richard Rohr says she must have been a two on the enneagram because Jesus knew what would motivate her, would be giving her something to do to help others. So He tells her not to cling to Him, but to go and tell the others.

  • Jim Radde
    Posted at 22:13h, 21 April Reply

    Thank you Philip.
    Happy Easter.

    Jim

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