We have 50 days to celebrate and become ALIVE IN HIM. Sometimes we focus a lot on Lent, but we need to know that the goal of Lent is Easter. We are made for Easter.
How to celebrate Easter and be resurrected with Jesus? 8 tips for a good Easter.
1. Seek Transformation in Christ.
Lent is the time to purify, Easter the time to change. As you read the resurrection narratives, contemplate the Risen humanity of Jesus and think: what aspect of the risen humanity of Jesus do you want to contemplate and receive in your life? The Risen Jesus appears to share many gifts from heaven: a new love, a new peace, a new joy, a new mercy, and new sense of mission, etc. For example if you are fearful, see Jesus transforming the fear of the apostles into boldness. If you are sad, see Jesus transforming the tears of Mary Magdalene into joy. If you are lukewarm, see the risen Jesus enkindling the hearts of the disciples of Emmaus. If you are doubtful, see the risen Jesus giving faith to Thomas. What you need is in Him!
Choose one or two gifts from the risen Jesus and ask him to give them to you. As said above, the resurrected Jesus shows a “glorified humanity”. He is the perfect example of what it means to be truly human. He comes with many resurrected gifts: Peace, joy, love, mercy, burning hearts, and a new sense of mission. Contemplate the resurrected Jesus and ask him for one or two special gifts of his risen humanity.
2. Express the Ressurection in a visible way:
Do something that will help you experience and manifest in a visible way that Jesus is alive. Let the New Life received in your heart become more visible outside. How can my life manifest more clearly the resurrection? You can smile more. Grow in joy. Imitate the charity of the risen one… you can sing… You can keep your room in order (like Jesus who left the tomb and rolled the linen that covered his face).
3. Remove the crucifixes (only for Easter!) and replace with a picture of the Risen Jesus.
We tend to focus on the cross but we are not used to “contemplating” the resurrection. Choose an inspiring picture of the Risen Jesus and pray with it.
4. At the end of the day, seek the presence of the risen Christ.
For 40 days he appeared to his disciples, and even to 500 people. He talked to them. They ate with him. During Easter, you “will see him in Galilee.” He promised to show up in your life. At the end of the day ask yourself: where did the risen Christ manifest himself to me?
5. Do Easter Prayers:
Regina Caeli, Radiate Christ, Easter Daily offerings. Instead of the VIA CRUCIS, you can pray the VIA LUCIS. See hand out of Easter Prayers below.
6. Read the Resurrection narratives:
John 20–21, Luke 24, Mk 16:9–19, Mt 28. I suggest that during your holy hour or Tabor time read all these passages slowly and meditate on them. Pay special attention to the words of the Risen Christ and the fruits of the resurrection: joy, peace, love, and mission.
Easter is also a good time also to do a careful reading of the Acts of the Apostles and the First Letter of Saint Peter. Acts narrates the ‘deeds’ of the Church moved by the Spirit. The first reading of daily mass will be from Acts almost every day. The Letter of St Peter shows the dynamism of life in Christ that comes to us through baptism.
7. Greet other believers with the Resurrected Greeting: The Lord is risen; He is risen indeed!
We need to strengthen one another by sharing our faith in the Resurrected Jesus. The faith of the disciples grew as they share with one another the truth of Jesus’s resurrection! Echo the Resurrection of Jesus with other believers!
8. Begin to pray for the coming of the Holy Spirit. Lent leads to Easter. Easter leads to Pentecost.
The fullness of the resurrected life of Jesus comes to us through the Holy Spirit. All that Jesus did had one main goal: to baptize us in the gift of the Holy Spirit. See Easter through that perspective: it’s a journey towards Pentecost.