St Joseph's College, Echuca

Living with Strength and Kindliness

Finding Easter amongst all those baskets and bunnies!

 

We can often get lost trying to understand what it is that we are celebrating at Easter time.

 

I think it was actually Boxing Day, or not very far after that, walking though the supermarket aisles, that we started to see plenty of reminders that Easter is coming.  What isn’t so obvious though, from the marketing lines of hot cross buns and chocolate eggs, is that for Christians, Easter is the most important part of the liturgical year and is the most significant event in our faith.

 

Easter is the central celebration in Christian religions. The Easter holidays incorporate all the important days that cover the story of Jesus' death; from Palm Sunday (Sunday of the Week before) to The Last Supper (Thursday night) to Jesus’ crucifixion (Good Friday) and then to His resurrection from the dead on the third day (Easter Sunday).  

 

So, how amidst all the bunnies and baskets can we make some connections for both ourselves and our children?  In fact, bunnies, eggs, baskets and more can become tools that parents can use to bring a greater understanding of the message of Easter. With just a little creativity, all these symbols that often replace the real significance of Easter can be the very things that can work as tools to make connections for young people, when trying to grasp what is at times a difficult and confusing story.

 

In my reading this week I came across this and I really liked it. It might be more suitable for a younger audience but the lessons can be learnt by a person of any age. Let’s call it:  

 

Understanding Jesus by talking about what a real Easter Bunny is…

 

Real Easter bunnies:

  • are white as snow because Jesus takes all sin away (Isaiah 1:18b).
  • are gentle, kind-hearted and forgiving (Ephesians 4:32).
  • have big ears that are quick to listen (James 1:19).
  • have big eyes to look carefully and choose what is good (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
  • have no voice for complaining or arguing (Philippians 2:13).
  • are quiet in prayer, but hop with gratitude and joy (Philippians 4:4-6).
  • have big feet to go tell others about Jesus so they can be like Easter bunnies too (Matthew 28: 19-20).
  • eat what is healthy and good by filling up on God's word (Psalm 119:11) and looking to ensure that the eggs that they purchase at Easter time are ethically and sustainably sourced.

I thought some of these ideas might look good on a gift card, attached to an egg, it might just be a simple way to make the meaning of the gift a little more obvious!

 

It doesn’t just stop once Easter Sunday is over!

Do you know what? One of my great loves of the Catholic Church and its teachings is the wealth of literary splendour that it shares with the world.

 

You might ask, what on earth I am talking about.

 

Well, did you know that the week after Easter Sunday is known as the ‘Octave of Easter’?  And it is a way for us to celebrate the ‘Solemnity’ of the Easter feast.  What amazing words! 

 

And what does that mean? It means the eight days in ‘Eastertide’. From Easter Sunday til the next Sunday.

 

In the history of the Church, the Octave of Easter is the greatest week in the Church’s calendar. ‘Christ is Risen. He is Risen Indeed!’

 

There are two periods of Octave in the Catholic Church and they align to the two great feasts in Christ’s life – Christmas, with His birth and Easter with His death.  Each of the Christmas and Easter events are followed by what is known as an Octave.

 

Of course we cannot comprehend the fullness of this great Easter mystery in our lifetime, but we are given Easter in eight days to slowly take it in. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! The comprehension and joy of this amazing gift of Christ conquering sin and death by His death and resurrection cannot be confined to just one day. The Church as a mother understands the needs of man. Within the liturgical calendar there is a built-in pattern that corresponds to human rhythms: times of preparation and penance building up to major feasts with celebrations that are prolonged, and multi-level feast days spread throughout the year. 

 

The Easter Octave gives us time to impress upon our souls the mysteries, joys and graces of the greatest feast of the Church. Each day of the Octave the liturgy dwells on the mysteries of the resurrection of Christ and our own resurrection through the sacrament of Baptism.

 

So, what can we think about during this Octave Week? This is Pope Francis’ interpretation:

 

We proclaim the resurrection of Christ, when his light illuminates the dark moments of our existence, and we are able to share it with others when we know when to smile with those who smile, and weep with those who weep, when we accompany those who are sad and at risk of losing hope; when we recount our experience of Faith to those who are searching for meaning and happiness… and there – with our attitude, with our witness, with our life – we say 'Jesus is risen' with our soul. 

 

The closing of the greatest week does not mean an end of Easter. The Easter season continues until Pentecost, a sum total of 50 days! The number of days of celebrating is longer than the preparation of the Lenten season, again illustrating the central importance of the Paschal Mystery.  

 

In the spirit of the Easter Octave, let us continue to celebrate the solemnity of Easter, even once the baskets and bunnies are gone from our supermarket shelves!

 

Let us pray:

Jesus, in times of disillusionment and faded dreams you stand at the door, waiting for me to invite you in. May the experience of your risen presence bring about a transformation in my daily engagement with others.  

Amen.

 

Sacramental Program

 

St Mary's Parish is offering the Sacramental Program (Reconciliation, Confirmation and First Holy Communion) to teenagers.

 

The Parish will organise a special program for teenagers who wish to undertake preparations for these Sacraments in 2022.

If you enrol your child in the program or if you have any questions about the program please contact Kirrilee Westblade: kwestblade@sje.vic.edu.au or on 54822577.  

 

The school would like to support your child throughout their sacramental journey.

For more information about the program please visit: http://www.stmarysechuca.org.au/reconciliation-confirmation-and-first-eucharist

Enrolment forms can be found online at:  http://www.stmarysechuca.org.au/reconciliation-confirmation-and-first-eucharist

 

 

Happy Easter Everyone!

 

Kirrilee Westblade

College Leader - Catholic Identity