Daily Reading for April 12 • The Sunday of the Resurrection: Easter Day
This ultimate day affirms that death is no more, the last enemy is overcome, the gate of heaven is open. By simply experiencing the processions of death and life with others, we come to the last mystery—that the tomb is empty, that life rises from the tomb, that God in Christ has redeemed the world, the cross of shame is the cross of glory. Understanding it is the work of a lifetime, but because we have consented to be there, by that assent glory will permeate all we do hereafter.
“Who sweeps a room as for thy law
makes that and the action fine.”
It is not that we become good, or clever, or nice, but that we are there, ready to be loved by the love which does not depend on our actions but is a free and unconditional gift to all. It is not that we shall suddenly find ourselves totally other on Easter Day—rather we shall know that each step of ordinary living from now on is within the dynamic procession of love which is the return of Christ to the Father.
From In the Company of Christ: A Pilgrimage Through Holy Week by Benedicta Ward SLG. Copyright © 2005. Used by permission of Church Publishing Incorporated, New York, NY. www.churchpublishing.org