“Life wasn’t meant to be easy, my child, but take courage: it can be delightful.”

“Life wasn’t meant to be easy, my child, but take courage: it can be delightful.”

That could be a sentiment experienced by us, Christians, who can look forward to the Easter Triduum of the life of our Lord Jesus Christ. The life of a person, fully man and fully God, was not meant to be easy for Jesus. The author of the Letter to the Hebrews succinctly summarises of Jesus’ earthly life: “During his life on earth, Christ offered up prayer and entreaty, aloud and in silent tears, to the One who had the power to save him out of death, and he submitted so humbly that his prayer was heard. Although he was Son, he learnt to obey through suffering; but having been made perfect, he became for all who obey him the source of eternal salvation.” (Hebrews 5:7-9)

In Mark’s gospel, after patiently instructing his disciples on his mission, and three times having predicted his passion, Jesus courageously took God’s mission of love to the heart of Judaism, Jerusalem, and entered his passion. The late American biblical scholar Fr Raymond Brown put it beautifully, “abandoned by his disciples, betrayed by Judas, denied by Peter, accused of blasphemy by the priests, rejected in favour of a murderer by the crowd, mocked by the Sanhedrin and by Roman troops and by all who came to the cross, surrounded by darkness, and seemingly forsaken by his God,” (A Crucified Christ in Holy Week, Liturgical Press, 1986, p32) Jesus entered willingly and courageously into his passion. However, before his passion, Jesus also consoled his fearful disciples perhaps in stronger words than Mr. Frasers. He famously said: “In the world, you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have conquered the world!” (John 16:33) This is really encouraging!

“He has risen; he is not here.” (Mark 16:6) These are delightful words, heralded to the women at the tomb. This message once again is presented to each one of us today. Through the Paschal Mystery of our Lord we have been given a wonderful life. That wonderful, awesome life which Christ has offered and called to each one of us to walk with him in newness of life, is done through our renewal of baptismal promises: Do we renounce sin, so to live in the freedom of the children of God? Do we believe in God the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth? Do we believe in Jesus, his only Son, our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary, suffered death and was buried, rose again from the dead and is seated at the right hand of the Father? And do we believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting? After that the holy water will be used to sprinkle the worshipping community which reminds us of our baptism, dignity, and our place in God’s family. Remember it is the warm holy water!

Let’s thank God for everything that he has done in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. So “hold up our limp arm and steady our trembling knees, and smooth out the path we tread, then the injured limb will not be wrenched, it will grow strong again.” (Hebrews 12:12-13)

Christ is risen Alleluia! He is truly risen Alleluia!

Happy Easter everyone!