Fr. Frank Majka, SJ – The Bridge

Where Is the One We Seek: Easter Sunday

In Luke’s gospel, the women went to the tomb on Easter morning only to find the stone rolled away and Jesus’ body gone. “Where is he?” was the big question in their minds and hearts. Suddenly two angels appeared and told them that they were looking in the wrong place, for Jesus was alive and they should not look for him among the dead. (Luke 24)

We, too, need to know not only that Jesus has risen; we need to know where to find him. Ignatius Loyola’s spirituality tells us that God is in all places and all people. Health or sickness, a long life or a short one, chaos or beauty, success or failure, people we like and people we don’t — we can find Jesus in any or all of them if we truly search, for there is no place he cannot meet us, nowhere he cannot be.

In our day we have been specially blessed in having Mother Teresa and Pope Francis remind us to seek Christ among the poor, the sick, those who have been marginalized and “don’t count” in our world. Just as Jesus was open to everyone before his death but showed special concern for the poor and sick, that continues to be true now that he is risen; and the pope keeps directing our hearts and actions to those who are most in need.

As individuals and as a church, when we seek and find Jesus he will share his risen life with us, too. And the power of Christ’s Resurrection will continue to shape and re-shape us and the world.

Happy Easter!