Reflection during the Easter Season
Christyn Fodor, OP
However, the revitalization of the waterfront isn’t what brought me to this area of Jersey City. It was a small church in the middle of a residential block, which was attempting to reach out to the waterfront community. At that time, what I most appreciated about this little church was the fact that it was a great place to worship on Sunday. Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish, to this day, celebrates some of the best liturgies I’ve ever experienced. Not only are the preaching, singing, and participation of the people top notch, but the spirit and concern of the community for each other as well as for the neighborhood is really something quite incredible. And just when you think the Sunday celebration and community can’t possibly get any better, the parish even surprises itself. This year’s Easter Vigil was one of those surprises.
The Easter Vigil Liturgy was exceptional. From the lighting of the fire at the beginning of the service and the Easter Proclamation, to the telling of the story of salvation, to the singing of the Gloria once again, and all the many, many alleluia’s that were sung throughout the service, there was no doubt to everyone there that night that “the Lord is truly risen!” Now for the next fifty days this heightened sense of joy and peace and love continues to be proclaimed, celebrated and sung with great enthusiasm and faith. It’s a wonderful experience. Yet, this Easter “high” could almost be euphoric or surreal if it wasn’t for the other message we are also hearing.
During these fifty days of Easter, while we are singing alleluia to our risen Savior, we are also listening to the stories of the struggles and hardships of the early followers of Jesus. Although these new believers are living in the not too distant light of the resurrection, we are hearing how they had to struggle with how to gather as a community, who will be permitted to be part of this new group, who will lead the assembly. There are stories of disagreements among members and among really good friends. There are disputes about who isn’t contributing enough and who isn’t following all the rules. Members are being sent to prison, are being persecuted and some are even innocently being put to death for what they believe. These stories don’t exactly evoke in us the desire to sing alleluia!
For the early followers of Jesus, what they hoped for centuries has finally happened. Salvation has been won in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. But it seems almost paradoxical, to have what you want, yet to still have to struggle. Life for this new community of believers was difficult and confusing at times. Answers to difficult situations didn’t seem to come as easily as one would think given that “Jesus is risen as he said.” Yet, in spite of the difficulties of these early believers, a community of the faithful began to take shape and form, spread and grow to all parts of the world.
So, it does beg the question, “How did it happen?” As I listen to the stories again this year, I’m increasingly aware that this new community of believers seemed unafraid to face and grapple with some very difficult questions. They seemed unafraid to face the harsh realities of life. However, it was the struggling with the hard questions within the context of community that seemed to enable those who gathered to think “outside the box.” They found new ways of relating to each other and to the world around them within the context of the Good News of Jesus the Christ that certainly made all the difference in the world. Did the day-to-day hardships vanish? It doesn’t seem so. However, when they gathered in community and worship, and challenged each other to discern the truth, their identity and way of living became clearer not only within the growing new community, but also for those outside their community who observed them. They soon became known as “Christians,” and people often remarked, “See how they love one another.”
What does all of this have to do with us today? I think the message is two-fold. First, when faced with decisions for the common good, it’s important to stay with the question and ponder it within community, with the Good News of Jesus as the “container” for the discernment. The members, together, hold the wisdom for a future direction or possible solution to a pressing problem. Secondly, when we, as community, remember the great Mystery of God wanting to be so intimately a part of our lives, we, like the first Christians seem compelled to preach and sing of God’s great a love for us.
There seems to be something about the faithful celebrating the Easter story while at the same time struggling with the hard questions of life that unites us as a community, raises us up high, and allows us to proclaim it ALL as GOOD NEWS.