Tuesday within the Octave of Easter
I don’t tend to think too much about the Holy Spirit. Sure, I know that the Spirit is one of the three persons of the Trinity, but it’s not always so easy for me to picture the Spirit or recognize the work of the Spirit in my life. I’ve heard theologians say sometimes that the Spirit is neglected in the thoughts and devotions of Christians. For these reasons, it seems to me that the scripture readings for today have something important to say to us. They point us to the importance of the Spirit in our lives as Christians, especially as we continue to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection this Easter season.
The gospel reading for today relates how Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early on the first Easter morning. We are told that Mary came to the tomb seeking Jesus’ body, but instead of finding Jesus dead in the tomb, she found him resurrected and speaking to her. What a great surprise! Jesus’ words to Mary tell us that Jesus is looking forward to his ascension to heaven, where he will remain until his second coming, and that his resurrection is directly connected to the ability of Christians to receive the Holy Spirit.
Jesus’ suggestion that his task is not complete (v. 17) thus connects this passage to the first reading, which talks of the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on Jesus’ disciples at Pentacost. In that reading, Peter urges those who have heard the gospel message to examine their lives and to be baptized. It is implied there that in order to accept Jesus people must accept the reality of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, which the disciples have been preaching.
When I consider the meaning of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, I am reminded of the new life that Christians have in Christ. Without Jesus’ sacrifice we would be captive to sin and death. There would be no hope of overcoming the hardship, darkness, and brokenness that are so often a part of life in this world. By contrast, Jesus Christ has given us the hope that there is a better way. We know that our lives can and should be different—that we can be free of despair, hopelessness, and the bad habits and ruts that we so easily fall into. I am also reminded of the fact that I have been baptized and have received the Holy Spirit in the sacrament of confirmation.
What this means for me in practical terms is that I am reminded of the need to remain open to God’s presence. I pray that during this Easter season I will grow in the gifts and fruits of the Spirit. By remaining open to the Spirit, I can better meet the challenge of putting faith into practice in daily life. Further, I pray that I will learn to live, again through the Spirit’s help, the new life that is offered to me and all Christians in Jesus Christ.
- Joel Schickel