Easter Joy

From the desk of Fr. Ignatius Waters, cp

Sunday, 1st April 2018

It’s been a long cold winter and we have warnings of more of the same – even at Easter! So, more than ever we need to experience the joy of Easter. More than ever we need to be reminded that there is life after death; that Jesus’ death and resurrection is the pattern for us too. You remember those who saw him after his rising just couldn’t believe it. “Their joy was so great they couldn’t believe it!” We are no different. We have no problem believing death and depression and betrayal because we see so much of it in our world. But joy and hope are just as real, and Jesus lived and died that we might have life and hope and joy. The following poem by Pablo Neruda (loose translation by F. Monks) is a call to hope and courage. Hope it encourages you this Easter:

We die slowly when we are slaves of habit, retracing the same paths every day, never changing the colours of our clothes, never meeting new people, never venturing.

We die slowly when we prefer black to white and are so rigid we never allow ourselves to experience those emotions, which bring a sparkle to the eye, turn yawns into smiles, and confront the heart with wonder and love.

We die slowly when we are unhappy at work, refuse to risk leaving the secure and safe for the uncertainty of following a dream, when we never once allow ourselves a crazy moment!

We die slowly when we never travel, never read, and never listen to music.

We die slowly when we destroy our self-respect, when we refuse love, when we constantly lament our misfortune, the heat, the cold, the constant rain, (even snow!)

We die slowly when we abandon a project before it begins, when we don’t question what we don’t understand, and refuse to respond when asked something we don’t know.

On the other hand, we avoid death in small doses by always remembering that to live requires far more effort than simply breathing! 

                                     HAPPY EASTER!