Easter Season 2016

Here in New England, our seasons are grounded in the the cycle of birth, blooming, aging, death and rebirth. However, the Church seasons are also based on such a cycle. While Advent is waiting for birth of Christ, Lent is waiting for new life in Christ. The Christmas season is about Jesus’ maturity into His ministry, while the Easter season celebrates the Church’s coming of age. Following Christmas we make new year’s resolutions to foster our personal growth; in the Easter season we dwell on the maturation of our faith communities.

Jesus is no longer available to general masses; His time with the disciples free from the demands from a public ministry. He is exclusively their’s during this time. I imagine Him pulling each aside to discuss the gifts and talents He’s witnessed and to share His dream for that person’s role in the Church.

Pre-passion, Peter’s a goofy, big-hearted, enthusiastic, somewhat naive follower of Christ’s. However, Post-resurrection, he becomes a strong, serious, thoughtful leader. While Peter’s confidence, insights, actions, words, routines and concerns have changed, his heart has not.

This Easter season, like those in the Early Church, we reflect on where we are, where we’ve been and where we envision going as a community, but in order for our faith communities to mature and congeal, our individual relationships with the Resurrected Jesus need to deepen. In other words, the unity of our faith community is effected by each individual’s prayer life.

Related