Happy Easter

When we talk about Easter, we talk about the stone being rolled away and the empty tomb. Yes, the stone is rolled away so that the voices of prayer can be heard again with acclamations of “Alleluia!” because Christ is risen, and He wants to lift us up and to rise with Him in victory over sin and death. But we also must be aware that the stone can also roll back and cover our hearts if we are complacent and not compliant to the essential safety measures.
The Risen Christ wants to roll away the stones of our hearts so that the light of His Resurrection can shine into our hearts to scatter the darkness of sin and fear. Those stones must be rolled away so that the blood and water from His pierced side can flow into our hearts and renew our faith, strengthen our hope and deepen our love. That is why Easter is the time when we renew our Baptismal Promises, which are essentially to renounce sin and to be faithful to God. And after that we are sprinkled with holy water as a reminder of our Baptism in Christ.
That brings us to a reflection of stone and water. In the encounter between flowing water and stones, the water always wins, not by strength or by force, but by persistence and perseverance. And as the waters flow, the stones are smoothened and even polished, so much so, that we can say the waters have made the stones beautiful. Even if it is just dripping water, it will wear out the stone, and again, not by strength or by force, but by persistence and perseverance.
So, may the waters that have been blessed and given out during this Easter celebration, soften our hearts and make them like living waters in the hands of the Risen Lord, so that we will always flow with the will of God. May these waters that remind us of our Baptism, also roll away the stones that are blocking our hearts, so that we will come out of the darkness of sin and fear and rise in love and holiness with the Risen Lord Jesus.
Happy Easter! Here’s to new beginnings and second chances! Alleluia!

Fr. Aegidius Warsito SCJ