Living the Story
"...he saw and believed. For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead." - Jn 20:8-9
Today's Gospel draws us into the heart of the Resurrection, placing us at the empty tomb with the first disciples, in the early morning darkness to experience the shock, awe, and confusion of that moment—as if for the first time. We are the disciples on Sunday morning, trying to understand what it means for us that Jesus has risen from the dead. How often have we, too, cried out in darkness and fear, how often have we felt alone and abandoned, unable to understand why?
Around us, many face profound hardship—those in war zones, those enduring serious illness, those who’ve lost jobs or live in constant fear of losing one. Where do their resilience and perseverance in seemingly impossible situations come from? More and more, I’m learning from their stories that trust in God enables people of faith to nurture hope. And through the Resurrection of Jesus a confidence grows that the weariness of life is not the end.
We all have a story to tell. Not always with words, but by how we live. How we live is how we tell our story. Will it be a story of tragedy or one of hope? The difference lies with believing in the Resurrection, which gives us a lens of hope to interpret all the events of our lives. The Resurrection is not simply the joyful ending to a sad story. Rather, it’s the difference that transforms and reframes painful moments as opportunities to grow in humble acceptance of our humanity, receive God’s love in unexpected ways, and choose to not let our hearts be troubled by fear.
We are called to be living stories of God’s love. To let our story speak and draw people into the story of God’s love for us. Thankfully, Easter lasts fifty days. We have longer than Lent for this truth to marinate in our minds and hearts, to patiently let our understanding of what Jesus’ Resurrection means for us influence the story we tell by our life.
How have I been surprised by grace or love in seasons where I expected only loss? What is the ‘story’ my life is telling right now?
David Romero, SJ