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POST-EASTER: HOW ARE YOU BEING CHANGED?

April 28, 2017 By Sarah Christmyer 2 Comments

“We only got through the first page of your [Bible study] lesson,” a man told me last week. “It’s a great lesson from Acts,” he continued; “don’t get me wrong! But we couldn’t stop talking about how great Lent and Easter were.”

Imagine! Have you ever heard anyone gush about how great Lent was? After 40 days of privation and discipline, I’m more used to people breaking out into sighs of relief. So as the saying goes, Inquiring minds want to know:

What did Lent and Easter do for you?
How are you being changed?

"In Christ I am a New Creature" - photo of Butterfly just hatched from a cocoon; changed

All this week in daily mass, the first reading has been about changed lives. For example, Monday we heard Acts 4:23-31 (read it here) — where Peter and John are threatened by the Jewish rulers and report back to their friends. These are not the same men we saw cowering in fear and unbelief after Jesus died:

  • Their gut response to opposition is PRAYER
  • The people are drawn together in UNITY of purpose and action
  • There is a new UNDERSTANDING OF SCRIPTURE in light of Christ
  • Jesus is living his life through them, HEALING and performing SIGNS Of HIS LIFE and power
  • The result of their prayer is a fresh outpouring of the HOLY SPIRIT and astonishing BOLDNESS

These are new creatures, indeed. They’ve been born again!

We’re on an Easter journey to Pentecost, when we will recall our own new birth in Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit. But for now, let’s savor the change Easter brings and ask the Lord to finish what he began in our hearts during Lent. I ask you again:

What did Lent and Easter do for you?
How are you being changed?

Grant, we pray, almighty God,
that we, who have been renewed by paschal remedies,
transcending the likeness of our earthly parentage,
may be transformed in the image of our heavenly maker.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

(Collect for Monday of the 2nd week of Easter)

© 2017 Sarah Christmyer

 

Learn to Pray with the Psalms

 

Filed Under: Holidays and Holy Days Tagged With: Lent/Easter

Comments

  1. Maria Sacco says

    April 28, 2017 at 11:23 am

    What a beautiful sharing. I am experiencing that ongoing transformation I prayed for during this Lenten & Easter Season. In spite of all the Crosses I am to bear in this life (all broken family relationships); I feel lightened whenever I unite my suffering to Christs & surrender it to Him in joyful Hope.

    Your words and reflections are so inspiring. Thank you, Maria Sacco

  2. Karen Sheehy says

    April 28, 2017 at 4:08 pm

    I am being challenged and stretched, sometimes in ways that seem beyond my capacities. I am also being bombarded by a series of obstacles which can only be coming from the greatest spoiler. All this gives me courage and hope that the Holy Spirit is indeed moving and drawing me into something really good. Why else would Satan be so interested in ruining the “party”. Come, Holy Spirit, Come and fill me with your gifts, so that your fruits may blossom within my heart and soul and the spiritual life of those around me! Amen

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Sarah Christmyer writes and speaks about Scripture and the Catholic faith with the goal of helping people meet Jesus in his Word. “The Bible isn’t just a book about God or instructions for a good life; it’s a place to meet God and be changed by him,” she says. Her love of Scripture fuels her writing of Bible studies and related books; her teaching of Philadelphia seminarians; her speaking at conferences and retreats; and writing for blogs such as this one. “Come Into the Word” draws people into the Bible and encourages and equips them to explore it on their own.

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