When Easter Doesn’t Feel like Easter

I have spent far too much of my time lately lamenting  many things – no mass, no confession, no perpetual adoration. I feel, like many others, spiritually parched and wishing for some sense of normality again. I wish it would feel like Holy Week.  I wish Easter would feel like Easter with celebrating at mass, with family, fun and good food.  But this has left me thinking and praying a lot. What do we do when Easter doesn’t feel like Easter? When the holiest week of the year feels anything but the holiest week of the year? Do we “skip” it? Pretend it didn’t happen this year and chalk it up to a loss?

The Week that Makes the Difference

On Passion Sunday, as Jon, Lucy, and  were watching mass, the priest, Fr. Henehan from St. Jude Parish in Peoria, IL said something that struck me and stuck with me. He said, “This is the week that makes the difference in every other week.” He reminds us that despite the crazy circumstances, this is still Holy Week. This is the holiest of times and we must still remember, participate, and celebrate despite the circumstances. If you’d like, you can listen to the homily here. 

As I continue to ponder this somewhat ordinary reminder that this is still the week that makes the difference for every other week, I have felt convicted. Convicted that my disappointments have led me to the temptation to simply write Easter off this year. And to be quite frank, this is a terrible idea. The coming holy days culminating in the Resurrection, are the crux of our faith. Without it, we Christians are nothing. St. Paul didn’t mince words:

And if Christ has not been raised, then empty [too] is our preaching; empty, too, your faith. Then we are also false witnesses to God, because we testified against God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, neither has Christ been raised, and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins.

1 Corinthians 15:14-17

Do Not Rob Easter of Its Power

Easter isn’t about good food or family or having a fun time. These are certainly good ways to celebrate, but in and of themselves they don’t properly express the importance of this solemnity. We rejoice that Jesus Christ has overcome death, ushered in the kingdom of God, and put all his enemies under his authority and power (1 Cor 15:23-26). We celebrate that we have been given a share in this power. As Christians, we live and act through this power. We possess the power, and not only the power, but we are one with The One who has conquered the grave out of love for you and for me. 

We must not, we cannot skip over and ignore these most important days simply because it doesn’t have the trappings of every other Easter. We must not rob this solemnity of its power. If we can embrace the suffering of this time, we are certain to rise victorious with Jesus on the third day. 

Empty Tombs

Sometimes Easter morning meets us and in our human frailty and we sit at the empty tomb as Mary Magdalene did, heartbroken because the one whom we love is seemingly gone. But we must not lose heart! The tomb is, in fact, empty. Not because someone stole Jesus or took him away from us, but because he has risen. Remain there at the tomb, waiting to hear his voice and utter your name. 

This Lent has been full of strange and previously unknown suffering. But do not let it go to waste. Enter into the mystery. Unite it to the cross and enter into the joy of Easter morning. 

After all, “We are an Easter people, and Alleluia is our song!” (St. John Paul II, Angelus, November 30, 1986).  If we are not there to rejoice, who will?

---

For reflection:

• How do you plan to enter into the Triduum this year?
• How do you plan to make Easter a joyful celebration?

If you need ideas:

• Dive into the scriptures that correspond with each day. Use Lectio Divina or Ignatian Prayer. Set aside a good chunk of time to pray and journal with these passages. You could use any Gospel beginning with the Last Supper, or to simplify, use the Gospel reading from mass for each day. 
  • Holy Thursday Gospel 
  • Good Friday Gospel
  • Easter Vigil Gospel
  • Easter Sunday Gospel
• You could opt for a self-paced online retreat. I’m particularly partial to the one offered by the Benedictine Monks in Atchison, Kansas.
• Don’t forget to fast and abstain from meat on Friday. I know we’ve been given an exemption, but if possible, try to maintain those things. 
• Practice extra silence and self-reflection by leaving screens (TV, phones, computers) off for the duration of the Triduum. 
• Watch The Passion of the Christ on Good Friday. 
• Pray the Stations of the Cross with your family on Good Friday.
• Venerate a crucifix you have in your home on Good Friday. 
• Use your prayer space (or create a small altar) where you can pray and keep vigil on Thursday night. 
• This post How to Make Holy Week Special at Home has some great ideas geared towards families that you could try out.