As we prepare to celebrate Easter on April 16 this year, it is very probable that we are already starting to think about how to celebrate that special day. For sure that a big part of the celebration includes a meal, and getting together with friends and family. Some people even go all the way to wear that special Easter outfit, decorate their homes, etc.
While I reflect upon this, and I ask myself how I will celebrate Easter day in 2017, one thing for sure came up to my mind: “It can’t be as I have usually celebrated it, because we are living unusual times in the history of our country.” Easter Day is about celebrating the resurrection of our brother Jesus, about life conquering death, about the dark forces being crushed by the power of light and love, and about all of us getting lifetime opportunities to repent, belief and follow.
As I am on the path to celebrate Easter Day, this Lent I am keeping my eyes open to see Jesus as he experiences betrayal, brotherhood, abandonment, and eventually death. Where is Jesus? Although we don’t have access to the physical Jesus any longer, we can see Jesus every single day in the faces of the immigrant families who are being separated, the immigrants that are incarcerated, the homeless people without shelter or clothes or food, the woman who is fearful because the rights over her body are not being respected, the people that for many years have felt overlooked, the elder who are afraid on how changes in the health care system may affect them, the LGBTQ community who are concerned that rights that took hard fights to accomplish may be reversed, and on, and on, and on.
The images of Jesus surrounding us are endless, and I pray that our eyes are open to see him in the other, so that our brother Jesus can say to us : ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ (Matthew 25: 34b-36)
Today’s Daily Lenten Meditation is by Antonio Gallardo, Pastor for Latino Ministries. Watch for daily postings from All Saints Church as we take the forty day journey to Easter together.
