Easter thoughts

Happy Easter, dear reader! This has been one glorious day weather-wise here in Minnesota. Spring has come, seeming to remind us that our Lord has risen. Alleluia, alleluia!

Psalm 118:1, 24: "Give thanks to the Lord, who is good, whose love endures forever...This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice in it and be glad." What better words to hear on, this, the most holy day of the liturgical year!

I was given an insight today. I went to see the movie "Of Gods and Men". The true story is about Trappist monks living in Algeria in the 1990's when unrest took place and civil war broke out. Throughout the movie, they were debating whether or not to stay or go back to France, from where they'd originally come. Ultimately, they faced their fears, their doubts, their misgivings and decided to stay. Eventually, they were kidnapped and murdered.

While watching the movie, I found myself relating to the monks. I realized that all the experiences of my life have led me to a profound understanding that my life, like the monks', is not my own. I don't mean this in an out-of-control victim kind of way. I am talking about my profession of faith prayer that I say each morning to do God's will that day. I long to do God's will. And, like the monks, I realize that a declaration of my Christian faith could lead to bad things for me (as well as good things, too!) in this world. Standing up for my faith, resisting temptation to sin in order to save something in this world that I hold dear, acting in ways to help others get closer to heaven have all cost me dearly...these are what it means to lose one's life--working God's plan, not mine, for my life. Matthew 10:39: "Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." I never understood that passage until now.

My heart's desire is to do what God wants of me. I know that doing what He asks of me will help me get closer to sainthood and it will also lead others to sainthood. I must "lose" my temporal life in order to find my eternal life. No matter what happens, God is with me. The trials and sufferings are blessings because they are opportunities to grow closer to God and to His kingdom.

The other day, a dear friend chastised me for something she thought I'd done. While what I did was not a sin (which we both figured out later), what I did do was tempt others to sin. I didn't realize until my friend spoke up that that was what I'd really done. I'd tempted people to sin by speaking about my feelings about someone who had hurt me, which led people who care about me to defend me by insulting the other person. And, my part in this was a sin. Well, to clarify, it wasn't a sin when I did it because I was oblivious to it being a sin but, now that I know it's a sin, it will be a sin from now on if I do it again.

I think I've been doing this sort of thing a lot. Now that I'm aware of it, I can do something different. I was horrified that my words could lead others to sin. I'd never really considered that before. I was so glad my friend pointed this out to me! That is true love and works of mercy: admonishing the sinner and instructing the ignorant. I am very blessed to have her loving friendship. She is helping me with my quest for sainthood.

So, I look back on this year's Lent, Triduum, Easter Sunday as a time of grace. I emerge from these days with renewed conviction to do as our Lord asks, to love Him more every day. God has certainly been nudging me in beautiful, holy ways! His love endures forever. Let us rejoice and be glad!