All are Made Holy by the Risen Lord

Dear Friends,

Friday late afternoon, it was over.
Jesus was dead.
That face, so loved, was still.
His eyes, like the blind men before He healed them, had no sight.
His voice which held authority but never disdain for the people who came to Him, was silent.
“It is finished,” he had said.
The victory was won,
Though those present did not know it.

Joseph of Arimathea came to take His body to a tomb not far away.
Another Joseph.
Another safe place.

The women came with Joseph to see the place where they laid Him.
They would be back after the Passover to anoint His body for burial.
For now, all withdrew.

Jesus’ passion had begun in an olive garden.
His tomb was also in a garden.
On the third day, Jesus stepped into his future and ours.
Our future with Him is in the garden of the world.

Save us savior of the world, for by Your cross and resurrection,
You have set us free.

In these times when we are so conscious of the agony of the world, 

devastated as it is by floods, storms, human greed and uncaring,
and war with all its destruction
we do well to realize,
this day,
that Jesus is indeed…the Savior of the…whole…world,
not just the Savior of people.
Beluga whales, tributaries of the Amazon,
elk, giraffes and puppy dogs,
corn, rice, and fragrant tea,
hummingbirds, wrens and roseate spoonbills,
rock that is over a million years old,
the universes of space and crickets –
all are made holy by the Risen Lord.
That third day,
with hands that bore
the wounds of His suffering,
Jesus held close all that His Father created.
To this very day as well.

Jesus, Savior of the world reaches out to all His Father had created:
“Behold! I make all things new!” (Rev. 21.5)

“Sunday is the day of the Resurrection,
the ‘first day’ of the new creation,
whose first fruits are the Lord’s risen humanity,
the pledge of the final transfiguration of all created reality.”
Pope Francis reminds us in Laudato Si (#237).

In this time of climate crisis, warfare and
deeply felt angst,
celebrate Easter,
not just with gratitude for the salvation which Christ offers you and me.
Rather, awaken on this Easter Day
Heartfelt praise and thankfulness
For everything God has made.

May we be open to the to the grace
to feel profoundly joined
To everything that is.                      Alleluia!

~ Sister Joan Sobala