All through Lent I found it almost effortless to pray in solidarity with the suffering of the world. The words of the Psalms, the prayers, and the songs of Lent aligned themselves with the pain and sorrow that is engulfing so many people. I was able to open myself up to the Spirit and allow my prayers to be the prayers of humankind.
Now has we have entered Easter, a new season of grace and a time of joy and thanksgiving, I wonder how I will pray. What do I make of the prayers now? How do I sing songs of great joy, ever-lasting life, and radiant light when I know that many people are living in fear, grief, and darkness, amidst war, sickness, and pain?
In all of this, it seems more important than ever to stay true to our calling: to make the good news of Jesus Christ known. We must celebrate this Easter season by keeping all of those suffering on our minds and the hope of the risen Christ in our hearts.
Let us be inspired by the words of St. John Paul II. “We do not pretend that life is all beauty. We are aware of darkness and sin, of poverty and pain. But we know Jesus has conquered sin and passed through his own pain to the glory of the Resurrection. And we live in the light of his Paschal Mystery – the mystery of his Death and Resurrection. ‘We are an Easter People and Alleluia is our song!’” (November 30, 1986, Angelus Message)
