Fourth Sunday of Easter
If there is one demand that permeates so much of our thought and gut feelings these days, perhaps it’s this phrase: “let’s get real!” If living in a fantasy world of literature and entertainment was the popular “great escape” for people in years past, it seems that “reality shows” (even if carefully edited!) and the real lives of real people are the most popular today. This is important when dealing with the subject of spirituality. Are we dealing with reality or fantasy? This is an age-old question. The personal choice one makes about spirituality determines the way and the intensity with which one makes ongoing life decisions in response to the challenges of everyday life.
The reflections which take shape and emerge from the liturgical readings of this Fourth Week of Easter are intended to show my bias that I believe spirituality to be absolutely real and essential for an integrated understanding of our value as human beings.
The constant message of the liturgical readings during this Easter season at the Eucharist is that the events of the Paschal Mystery provide a new view of reality. The total-self offering in love as Christ died on the cross and the Father’s confirmation through the resurrection from the tomb has elevated the meaning of human life. It shows that everything Jesus taught about God’s love for every human person and our ability to respond to that love in ordinary life is absolutely real. The Paschal Mystery, so long-awaited throughout the Old Testament, even if not fully understood, is the “missing link” that has now been provided. The perfect union of God as Creator of all creation has been established through Jesus, the Beloved Son.
This is the Good News accompanied by joyful Alleluias around the world. And still, as always, the process of “making it real” in our particular world is ongoing. Our whole life has been a series of steps, moving from the present which is known to the next unknown, and the next, and the next, and always remains unfinished. Is it possible that the desire for the completion deep within us is the reality of Jesus in His Risen Spirit taking us by the hand to lead us? That’s the good news of today’s Gospel. That same Gospel calls us to the reality of choosing to listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd.
Reflection by Fr. Daniel Petsche, OSB
Posted in Article for Easter, Daily Reflections