Christ is Risen! Truly, He is Risen. The Editor and writers of igNation offer our readers Easter greetings of joy. May you and your families and loved ones know the wonder and joy of the Risen Lord!

This year's annual Easter appeal from Canadian Jesuits International (CJI) is rooted in the image of dry bones from the Prophet Ezekiel. "Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord … I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil."

The appeal makes the connection between Easter and those works throughout the world that are supported by CJI and its donors. The appeal explains, "As it was for Ezekiel, reality for many people now is like a desert valley filled with sun-drenched bones." More people than we can possibly imagine know with absolute clarity the experience of Good Friday. Is Resurrection possible for them?

Ezekiel goes on to offer an image of the bones being brought back to life with the appearance of the Spirit of God. "Suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together (with sinews, flesh, skin and breath) … and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude." CJI offers the hope and conviction that the crises of our time – forced migration, terrorism, senseless wars, climate change, economic chaos, political deadlock – can be transformed.

CJI provides several illustrations of projects that are offering new life to some of the victims of those very crises, ways in which they are being helped to stand on their feet. Resurrection and transformation are possible! But it is still needed by many in the world. Here’s a link to Canadian Jesuits International’s Easter appeal if you want to learn more click here. 

The disciples and friends of Jesus also knew that experience of a real longing for something to rely upon in the days after Good Friday. We hear something of their sadness and dejection in the account of the Road to Emmaus. The Easter Gospels tell us about the amazement they experienced as the women discovered the empty tomb at Easter.

It's summed up quite succinctly in the words of Mary Magdalene, "I have seen the Lord." The disciples on the road to Emmaus proclaim, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the Scriptures to us?"

A good question for us to ask ourselves this Easter is about where we have seen the Lord. Where have we experienced that Easter joy? When have the dry bones come to life? When have we been able to stand on our feet? These don't have to be profound moments of transformation. It could even be that simple experience of being surprised by hope and joy.

 A personal "dry bones" experience was that of being disturbed by the constant images of Syrian refugees trying to find a place of welcome around the world. The bones were brought to life with the new federal government's promise to accept 25,000 refugees, a promise which has been surpassed. The bones really came alive for me in early January.

I flew to Sudbury to help with ministry at our spirituality centre west of there. Arriving at the Sudbury terminal is usually a quiet affair. That Thursday afternoon I was met by a terminal filled with people: children, politicians, TV cameras, and so on. After a few minutes of confusion, I figured out what was happening. A Syrian family was being welcomed to Sudbury. I watched the unfolding of the events. It was moving, to say the least. I found myself in tears and I just knew that this was a significant moment.

Clearly it was significant for the Syrian family and those who welcomed them. I also found significance in it, seeing it as a moment of shifting from discouragement about whether there was hope for the Syrian refugees to a place of hope. I posted on Facebook about how proud I was to be Canadian that day.

What have been some unexpected Easter moments of surprise and hope for you?