Rise Up

“And I’ll rise up
I’ll rise like the day I’ll rise up
Ill rise unafraid I’ll rise up
And I'll do it a thousand times again And I'll rise up
High like the waves I'll rise up
In spite of the ache I'll rise up
And I'll do it a thousands times again For you”

     (Day, Andra. “Mountains.”Cheers To The Fall, BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., TuneCore Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, 2015)

These lyrics from Andra Day’s performance of ‘Mountains’ really strike me this particular Resurrection Sunday.Though this is a secular song it has me thinking about what Jesus’ rising up from the grave really means. Considering the events of the Triduum, I am struck by Jesus’ suffering on the way to Calvary. Those agonizing hours on the cross he endured as a result of my sinfulness pierces my soul and humbles my spirit. I think about how the disciples reacted to these events. I imagine they experienced a whirlwind of emotions – the shock of the injustice of the crucifixion; the profound fear of their fates; and the intense insecurity of whether Jesus was really coming back as he had told them he would. Then, in the midst of their traumatic grieving the women go to the tomb to find Jesus’ body gone! How could things get any worse? It’s hard to relate to thecompounded nature of the emotional wounds they carried. Yet, I am curious as to why the empty grave did not cause them to shout for joy at the evidence that Jesus conquered sin and death just like he told them he would?

In our modern times, we look forward to what the disciples realized in retrospect. Christ’s resurrection at Easter, is anticipated as the ultimate Catholic high holy day celebration. Our annual observances point us toJesus’ great act of love manifested through the triumph of the cross. Along with Lenten observances, we also prepare our churches for the Easter liturgies to be decorated with white and gold. Lilies and other spring flowers fill our sanctuaries. Bells and smells are reintroduced to enhance our acclamations of “Christ is risen! Truly, he is risen!” We are getting ready for the main event of our Catholic year! My family, like many others, plans in advance how we mark this occasion. Our traditions include attending the Easter vigil Mass together where the grandchildren participate in the dramatization of the creation story. We identify who is bringing what to dinner. Items are selected for the Easter egg hunt and baskets as a part of the joyful anticipation of being together. In our revelry and celebration, I wonder if we too, like the disciples in the upper room, fully grasp the true nature of Christ’s resurrection. Is Christ’s rising just an isolated point in time that is disconnected from the full meaning it contains?

There is no doubt that celebrating Christ’s resurrection is a cause for rejoicing, but as I reflect on the lyrics of the song, it is more than a one and done. Yes, Christ conquered sin and death and in doing so modeled for us something we must also imitate not just one time, but over and over and over again. Jesus did not rise for one moment but for all of the moments. Why? Sin and death are still present in our world. There are crucifiedplaces like Sudan and Ukraine that need the power of the resurrection to press on toward peace. There are crucified people living in Palestine facing genocide and in Maine being unjustly deported who are clinging to their human dignity. We live in crucifying times filled with propaganda, divisiveness and fear mongering yet reality, morality and civility refuse to crumble. We keep getting up! We rise like Christ rose on the third day.We rise unafraid because God’s spirit is in us. We rise high like waves when we use our collective resistance to say “No” to evil and “Yes” to the promises of Christ! And though we cry as the world's children die as a result of war; though our hearts ache when a community of color is jerrymandered; despite our struggle with having personal possessions at the expense of the deprivation of others, we will keep rising a thousand times again because Jesus died and rose for us. Every Sunday, we are reminded and encouraged to be resurrection people. Now that is something to celebrate!