The associated reading for this reflection can be found in your Every Sacred Sunday Mass journal or online here.
I turn 30 years old today. On this Easter Sunday, I’m officially the age when we believe that Jesus began his public ministry. I’ve meditated on that fact quite a bit in the last couple months. Throughout my life I always imagined Jesus as an adult, someone older, who was confident and knew what he was doing. It’s a funny thing to approach that same age and realize just how unfinished I still feel.
As I prayed with this further, it dawned on me how much I related to some of the simple details of Jesus' early years — he spent his twenties single, in formation, learning his craft, spending time with his loving family, and participating in the religious customs of his community. Reflecting on the life of the holy family calls me out of the mundane and opens my eyes to how much beauty there is in these private and hidden corners of our lives. We are continually invited to trust in the slow work of God. He is present in these quiet and unseen moments, which many of us are likely experiencing more of than normal right now.
Again and again I am captivated by a life with Christ. We find ourselves inside of these stories. He is with us in every season and his story sheds light on our own. And on today, the most incredible day of our liturgical year, we have arrived at Easter and we are invited to celebrate and rejoice.
For many of us, right now may not feel like a celebration after the heartache of this past Lent. However, as Christians we are blessed with the amazing freedom to detach ourselves from the rhythm of the world and conform ourselves to Christ instead. Just as we are called to unite ourselves to Christ’s suffering throughout Lent and the Triduum, so too are we called to rejoice as the Church in this Easter season. This is what’s so beautiful and transformative about liturgical living — because what else right now could signify rejoicing but the risen Savior, triumphant over death? The cross is a symbol of victory, both at the Resurrection and present day. We are reminded that death does not get the final say and we are called into new life with Christ.
As Saint Pope John Paul II so famously said, “We are an Easter people and Alleluia is our song!” We are called, more than ever, to be leaders and witnesses of hope. It is time for the Church to sing this Easter song to a world that so desperately needs it, on this day and forevermore.
Christie Peters is an art teacher turned full time artist and co-founder of Every Sacred Sunday. She specializes in watercolor and has illustrated the last three Every Sacred Sunday journals as well as writing and illustrating for other independent projects. This past year she started taking aerial dance classes for fun and likes to daydream about joining the circus. Come say hi to her here.