Faithful Living: The joy of Easter

In preparing for this great feasting season of Easter, we abstained, prayed and gave alms. What would happen if we lived the Easter season with as much fervour as we live Lent?

What can we do to colour our spiritual lives with Easter joy during this liturgical season? 

1. Stay connected to the liturgy. The readings for daily Mass during Easter take us on an exciting journey through the Last Supper discourse and through the amazing and frightening experience of the early Church. Spend time reading the commentaries on these passages, meditating on them, and allowing God to speak to our hearts through them.
   
   
2. Find ways to rejoice! Enjoy God’s goodness such that joy overflows from our spirits, into our emotions, and even into our bodies. Some inspiration: make Sunday lunch or dinner a truly festive occasion for your family and friends every Sunday of Easter; carve out some extra time during Easter for your whole family; reflect Easter joy in your wardrobe, baking, outings, movie selections etc.
   
   
3. Reach out. Jesus taught us that “there is more joy in giving than receiving.” Renewing our efforts to bring others closer to Christ, to help others who are in need – those close to us, or those far away – can colour our lives with Easter joy, if we season those efforts with prayer and faith.

Why should Lent be the only time we make resolutions? God has graces in store for us this season, just as he did during Lent. We only need to keep our eyes peeled so that we don’t miss them.

"fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith."
~ Hebrews 12:2

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Excerpts taken from Fr. John Bartunek's article in SpiritualDirection.com:
"How can we celebrate the Easter Season more fully?" ​