A Prayer for Easter

Apr 16

All Lent, I have been reflecting and writing about the teachings of Bl. Louis Brisson, OSFS, the founder of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales.

This Easter, I offer you a quote and a prayer from Bl. Brisson.

Let us reflect:

“My children, for us Easter must be the passing from natural life to supernatural life, the passing from ourselves to God. Render to God what is due Him in all your actions throughout your entire life. This will prepare you for your last Easter, your last Passover, which will be your passing from this heart to heaven, from the miseries of this world to the infinite joys of heaven with our Risen Savior. My children, we are on the way to eternal life. Let us begin here on earth what we will continue for all eternity.” (Cor ad Cor 135).

Let us pray:

“Why do you look for the living among the dead?”
the angel said to the women at the tomb.
Lord, the angel says that to me too on this Easter.
For I too often dwell among the dead,
removing the scars on my hands and my feet
so that I might bleed again.
Revisiting past hurts,
Cherishing resentments.
Ashamed by my wounds.
Entombing myself in the past,
walking dead in the present.

“He has been raised!”
the angel said to the women and to me.
Jesus, give me the grace this Easter to believe
that your Resurrection doesn’t depend on me being perfect;
that your Resurrection is not conditioned by my being right;
that your Resurrection isn’t a reward for right behavior;
but the guarantor that a new way is possible,
a new road is now open, and a new and eternal destiny lies before me;

that your scarred hand is stretched out before me,
waiting and desiring to grasp my bleeding hand,
as you invite me in faith, to take hold of you and never let you go,
to embrace my wounds and not run from them
and to experience your Easter gift of new and eternal life,
Resurrection now and forever.
For once we are born into this world,
we never truly die.

Jesus, help me remember that,
no matter what happens,
You will always rise.
And,
with your grace,
so will I.

Amen.

May God be Praised!