Celebrate Easter Every Day Of The Year!

Celebrate Easter everyday of the Year!

. . . and the choir sang Ha-lle-lu-jah, Ha-lle-lu-jah, Halle-lu-jah, Halle-lu-jah, Ha-lle -lu-jah! What a Glorious Easter Sunday! It was absolutely a miraculous site. The weather was a God sent! The sky was decorated with billowy white clouds that seemed to contrast perfectly against the baby blue sky. Bright sunlight peeked through the clouds with unspoiled rays as if by the craft of an artist portrayed the resurrection, the rising of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Inside the church seemed especially majestic and alive. The bare wood cross was now draped with a radiant white cloth that told the passionate story of more than 2000 years ago. The pews were filled with worshipers sitting unusually close, elbows and shoulders gently touching, while the isles held the overflow of a mix of happy, rushed and slightly confused people. There were regular parishioners, church snowbirds (people who only come to church on Easter and Christmas) and welcomed visitors donning their Sunday best. Especially precious were the little girls’ dresses of light pastels, ruffles, curled hair neatly tied with delicate ribbons, and shiny white patent leather shoes. It was incredible to see at least three generations of families attending mass together, from grandparents to grandchildren, celebrating Easter, the glorious resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

So, Easter has come and gone right? We put the baskets and the bunnies away weeks ago. We ate the chocolate and have blemishes and packed on a few pounds to prove it. So, why are we talking about Easter now? Today marks the third Sunday of the church’s Easter Season. Technically, we have the opportunity to celebrate Easter every day at mass through the Eucharist, however the majority of church goers only attend mass on Sundays. Did you know that in the Catholic Church Easter Season lasts 50 days, beginning on Easter Day and ending on Pentecost.

Now let’s back up a little bit and talk about Lent. Lent, the 40 days before Easter Sunday, is a time when we are called to grow in our relationship with Jesus. That means being more spiritually aware of our tongue, actions, and our behavior. We are called to sacrifice (usually this means giving up some kind of food, or more times than not, we choose goodies that we typically over indulge in, and hope that we can lose a few pounds in the process).

Ways to keep these 40 days holy would be like attending stations of the cross on Fridays, saying the rosary daily in honor of Jesus’ Mother Mary or the divine mercy prayer, go to confession before Easter Sunday (Catholics are asked to receive the sacrament of reconciliation at least once a year), immerse yourself in Jesus’ resurrection each day at 3pm, which according to scripture was the time of His death. You could also give 15-30 minutes of each day (same time each day helps to make it a wonderful habit) and sit quietly in a special place in your home free of televisions, the radio, and conversation (which include complaining, gossiping and arguing). Light a candle, place a cross or statute on a small table, and open your bible, and perhaps keep a daily journal. You’ll be amazed at what you will learn and how quickly your heart can begin to be transformed. We can also attend church programs designed to help us in our relationship with Jesus, attend services during Holy Week, which include the Seven Last Words, the Passion, Good Friday and Holy Saturday services. Through this time we are preparing ourselves for the ultimate celebration of Easter Sunday.

So, each year, how serious have we been through the 40 days of Lenten sacrifice and reconciliation (confession). Let’s talk about the sacrifice part. Now brace yourself, I’m not talking about you, it’s those other people in the other parish, okay? (I borrowed that line from a priest I know – Fr. Lucio – hope you don’t mind). We are not strangers to hearing comments like, “Ugh, it was so hard not to eat chocolate because I gave it up for Lent. Actually I cheated a couple of times, but God will forgive me, right?” Or, “I lost 10 pounds because I gave up soda, but now two weeks later I’ve gained it back – I can’t live without my soda.” “When is this Lent thing going to be over, I don’t know what else to eat on Fridays, who ever came up with not eating meat on Fridays!” Hmmmm, ouch! Oh Lord, forgive them for they know not what they do. Jesus suffered for us through mockery and physical torture. He was bound, spat upon, struck, and slapped. He suffered grave humiliation. His hands and feet were nailed to a cross. His sides were lanced. He was scourged, and stripped of His clothes. He was repeatedly struck on the head with a reed, a crown of thorns. Jesus hung on a cross and waited for God’s hour of mercy. His love was so great for us that he withstood pain beyond our comprehension so that we may have eternal life. I think such an incredible gift deserves a little sacrifice in return. What do you think?

I’ve got some good news, great news, and f-a-b-u-l-o-u-s news! Let’s work on those other people and let’s start with some simple questions. I know you can’t wait!

Now the GOOD NEWS is I know there are millions of believers, we were all in Church on Easter Sunday. First question: Besides attending mass on Easter Sunday what are we doing the other 364 days of the year? Now don’t get me wrong there are many, many wonderful people who are devoted to going to mass, prayer, giving their time to charity, etc. The question more specifically should be, are we working for ourselves (e.g. recognition, selfishness) or for the Lord?

It’s not much of a stretch to say that from birth until the time we wouldn’t listen to our parents anymore we were taught about God, how to pray, about daily mass and church on Sundays , right from wrong, giving, forgiveness, and love. Then, again, perhaps some did not have that kind of an upbringing. Nonetheless, if we’ve known these values; then they are imprinted on our hearts. And when we fail (darn that devil), our failures (aka sins) tug at our consciousness (or should). Through practice we have learned to stifle our most basic foundation: love.
Now for a house or building to withstand let’s say an earthquake, it needs a good solid foundation, right? What is our personal foundation to fight destruction, evil, depression, poverty, job loss or loss of a home, loss of a loved one, the list goes on and on. On whom do we lean? Who do we trust? Where do we look for guidance? Relying on ourselves rather than God is an unconscious practice that has been made acceptable by society. We look to ourselves, to each other, to politicians, government, celebrities, and even bogus church leaders for guidance or we point fingers when we need a scapegoat for our inequities. But GUESS WHAT, you can change! Change starts with a simple genuine desire to be a better person. Reward comes when we are pleasing to God, when we love as Jesus loved. In church today the choir sang a song and a beautiful line hit home it said, “if you follow your shepherd, then a shepherd you‘ll be”. Jesus asked his Apostles to shepherd his sheep. We too must follow Jesus and shepherd his sheep. Your spouse, children, parents, friends, and strangers all need a good, no GREAT, example to follow, why not you! Take action a situation and a day at a time. Practice makes us better. Read your bible. Learn about the lessons of love, compassion, judging, idols, gossiping, deceiving, and selfishness.

The celebration of Easter can be celebrated in mass everyday. However, if you can’t go to church, bring God, Jesus His Son, and the Holy Spirit into your life everyday, wherever you are.

Pray with me right now so that you may become a GREAT SHEPHERD. “Lord Jesus, I pray that through your grace I receive wisdom to hear and receive God’s word to guide me, open my heart so that it may offer great compassion to all, and allow my eyes to see God’s blessings for me that are abundant every day of my life. I asked this in your name, Jesus Christ. Amen.”

If you just prayed this prayer, you have taken your first step toward change. Hallelujah!