How was your Easter?

You might get asked that question and not think much of it. You would probably respond with what you did for Mass and if you were able to share a meal with loved ones.

But the question should really be, “How is your Easter?”

Easter is more than a day. It is an entire season. We finished Lent, a very specific season for prayer, almsgiving and fasting. Now we celebrate the Easter season that leads us to Pentecost and the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is a season of prayer, reflection and rejoicing, as we sing and say “Alleluia! He is risen!” over and over again.

At daily Mass after Easter through Divine Mercy Sunday, we hear different experiences of those who encountered the risen Jesus. In the gospels of Matthew, Mark and John, we learn of Jesus’ appearances to Mary Magdalene and the other women. In one, they are on the way to announce to the disciples they have seen the Lord. (Matthew 28:8-15) In another, Mary thinks Jesus is the gardener and recognizes him as he calls her by name. (John 20:11-18)

We also hear the story of Thomas and his lack of belief (John 20:19-31), reminding us that the Lord comes to us even in our doubt. I love the famous Road to Emmaus passage (Luke 24:13-35) when Jesus walks with two disciples and they recognize him in the breaking of the bread. I think of Pope Francis’ call that we accompany each other on the road of life, and how the Lord accompanying those disciples led them to the truth of the Resurrection.

I also love Jesus’ appearances to seven of his disciples at the Sea of Tiberius as they are fishing, when he also prepares breakfast for them (John 21:1-14). They clearly recognize Jesus as risen.

These accounts, while each a little different, speak to me of the glory and truth of the Resurrection. I am sometimes asked why the accounts are so different, and I recognize they do not match up perfectly. They seem to be different experiences, and I think that is exactly correct. They are different experiences of the same Resurrection.

Say you have an opportunity to go to a Nationals game. You are excited to be back at the ballpark for the first time in more than year and spend time with some friends. The next day, each of you email me your thoughts on the day, what happened and what stood out to you. 

Some of you might focus on the pure enjoyment of being together again at a ballgame. Others might write about how Juan Soto hit a home run in the ninth inning, or how many strikeouts Max Scherzer had, or the diving catch by Trea Turner. Somebody else might write about the ballpark food, while yet another emphasizes the beautiful weather and catching up with friends.

Each account would be different, and yet each would be true and equally valid. They would still speak of one occurrence – a great time at a Nationals game with good friends. The different viewpoints create a collage of the experience. 

I see the Resurrection accounts in Scripture the same way. We recognize that each one gives a little different perspective and understanding of what Jesus’ followers experienced as they saw him risen for the first time.

The disciples’ experiences after the Resurrection give me complete conviction that they did in fact experience the risen Jesus. Before Pentecost, they were afraid, hiding in the Upper Room with windows shut and doors locked, scared to go out in the streets for fear of being arrested as Jesus was. After the Spirit came upon them, they spoke openly, publicly and courageously to proclaim the story of Jesus.

For the first 30 years or so, they proclaimed these stories with great freedom. They traveled to bring Jesus to as many people and places as they could, to “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). They were very successful. With the spirit guiding them, the Church grew quickly.

That all changed in 64 A.D. when the Roman emperor Nero began to horribly persecute Christians, making it more difficult for them to preach and teach. Faced with this danger and the threat of their own deaths, how many disciples do you think stopped preaching? How many denied Jesus and said the Resurrection was a made-up story? 

None. Not a single one.

If it were a made-up story, surely at least one would have caved under the threat of death. And yet while there is some question whether St. John the Evangelist was martyred or not, there is no denying all of the rest of the 12 apostles except for Judas gave their lives after being steadfast eyewitnesses proclaiming that Jesus had risen. The Resurrection changed their lives, as it should change our lives. When I see the disciples willing to die for their faith – even St. Thomas, who initially doubted but came to believe – I recognize again the great mystery and yet great fact that Jesus truly has risen. 

The Resurrection is depicted in "Christ Risen from the Tomb," a painting by Italian Renaissance artist Bergognone. (CNS photo/courtesy of the National Gallery of Art)

Right before Easter, I had a call with my brothers and sisters. One blessing to come out of the past year is that all 13 Enzler siblings now get together monthly via Zoom. In that conversation, I said that Easter is our parents’ anniversary. Not their wedding anniversary, but the anniversary of their own resurrection. It is the anniversary of all who have died and now live with Jesus in heaven because of His eternal victory over sin and death. 

That is truly “good news” worthy of a day, a season, and an entire way of life. As we celebrate the Easter season all the way through to the end of May, let us think about those stories of the Resurrection, the early Church and our experiences of death and resurrection in our own families. Let us celebrate this gift of all gifts in prayer and joy. 

We remember all our loved ones, and in particular this year, those who died from COVID. More than 550,000 so far have been taken from us so quickly and tragically. Jesus’ Resurrection gives us the hope and belief that they and all who have gone before us have also been raised. Easter is their day, and one day it will be ours as well as we walk into the loving and outstretched arms of the risen Jesus.

(Msgr. John Enzler serves as the president and CEO of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington.)