The disciples were not just glad to see Jesus. They were overjoyed.
How can we comprehend the bliss the disciples experienced when they saw the Risen Lord? Importantly, how can we know that we have received the joy of Easter?
There is a precious grace that a retreatant prays for in the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius.
Contemplating the Resurrection, the retreatant is invited to rejoice at the great glory and joy of Christ our Lord. (Sp Ex 221) In other words, our Easter rejoicing is a participation in Christ's resurrection.
Christ was exuberant because he knew that in his Resurrection, the victory over all death and suffering had been achieved. This is a victory not just over his personal death and suffering, but all death and suffering, including our own. Christ
was happy not simply in his own liberation, but in the liberation of all people.
Can we let our Easter joy expand in our hearts, as we realise the depth of what Christ has done for each one of us—and for all people?
Reflections by Grant Tungay SJ
