EASTER - DEATH DEFEATED!

Holy Saturday was the "in-between time." Easter is "the real thing!" - an extraordinary, unique, unrepeatable event, a death and a resurrection from the dead that had a profound transformative impact on society.

Wish that we all share in and contribute to the transformation of society, a cause for which Jesus was crucified by the Powers-Be who love to maintain the statusquo - control and oppression of people to maintain power and serve their self-interests.

When we contribute to the coming of the "Kindom" - not "Kingdom" of God -- Easter becomes meaningful, otherwise it remains just a celebration of a Memory.

May we all experience the newness, the transformation Easter represents - and symbolized by the Easter Egg.

NEWNESS OF LIFE

EASTER  is all about newness of life.

Easter occurs at the end of winter when, apparently, nature is asleep and the beginning of spring when nature bursts forth in a riot of colour with new blossoms and new leaves adorning the hitherto dead-looking trees. Newness of life!

The symbols of the Easter Vigil indicate newness. There is a new fire, a new (Paschal/Easter) candle made from pure wax (supposed to!), newly blessed water, new Christians through baptism, new oils (now blessed at the Chrism Mass), renewal of baptismal promises.

All the readings chosen for the nigh vigil speak of newness of life.

And the cultural symbol of Easter - the Egg -- represents new life in a powerful way.

No question, Easter points to and invites us to newness of life, to renewal and regeneration - to a new birth.

What is the newness we are experiencing/need to experience at this Easter. Celebrating Easter without an experience of some newness/renewal in our lives, is to be stuck at Good Friday, to remain in the tomb, not  to experience resurrection.

The Sumedhans celebrated the Easter  Vigil and the Easter in grant style in a moving and meaningful liturgy and celebratory dinner. Almost the whole of Holy Saturday was spent in preparing the Liturgy. Participants showed great initiative, creativity and enthusiasm. The resulting joy was palpable!