Heading into Easter Joy

2023 April Post by Joann Piotrkowski ~ Tomorrow is Palm Sunday and we are headed into the Triduum and the joy of Easter Sunday!  A day when we can sing alleluia again, reminding us that we are an Easter people.  Throughout our Lenten journey we have heard many scripture stories that chronical Jesus’ journey to the cross.  The Hebrew Scriptures during Lent remind us how unfaithful to God humans can be.  Most accounts go something like this, God speaks to the people through the prophets commanding them to listen so that they remain God’s people and prosper.  But they don’t listen.  Sometimes God even reminds them of all the help he has sent to assist them in their faithfulness.  Yet, the people still do not listen.

But as we turn to Christian Scriptures we learn that Lent is not about our unfaithfulness to God, it is a reminder of God never losing faith in us.  Sometimes after hearing the Lenten readings,  I imagine that God basically says to humanity, “Don’t make me come down there!”  After all our human failings, God does come down here in the person of Jesus. While on Earth, Jesus told us how to live, how to love, how to forgive, how to pray and how to be in right relationship with God and with each other.  God did not lose faith in humanity.

Easter is the big reminder that our God came to earth in the person of Jesus and essentially took a walk in our shoes. The resurrection of Christ does much more than issue a guarantee of life after death.  It is a guarantee of life before death.  Jesus showed us a life of abundance in union with God.

As Easter people, we are called to live in the abundant love and faithfulness that God has for us.  Our response to that abundant love is to be Christ for others.  We sometimes need assistance as we look for ways to be Christ for others.  Reflective prayer always gives me an opportunity to hear where God is calling me next.  Join a Reflective Prayer opportunity to hear where God is calling you.  For twenty years, Centering Space has been here offering opportunities for prayer and for learning.

I am Dr. Joann Rymarczyk-Piotrkowski and I am happy and proud to be the new Centering Space Board Chairperson.  I currently serve as the Diocesan Director for Newman Catholic Campus Ministry and am the former Dean of the Cleveland Ecumenical Institute for Religious Studies. I look forward to moving into the future with Centering Space.