Easter - 2007

Saturday's Easter Vigil marked the culmination of the Holy Week, with christians celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus. From the darkness of the tomb to the light , He has risen to set us free. The resurrected Christ has defeated death and has won for us abundant mercy from his Father.  As Easter Ends, I am now journeying through the Novena of Divine Mercy .

 

The Novena of Divine Mercy is a 9 day Novena with a short prayer. Each day, a special group of people are offered to Jesus for his Mercy. The Divine mercy also has a chaplet , which implores our God for mercy in Jesus' name. Although i have not been able to say the Novena and the Chaplet at the prescribe time, I do try to say it at the end of the day.

 

This Easter has been one of the most spiritual of all Easter's I've experienced. One thing I have noticed is that , the more I offer as penance and sacrifice during Lent, the more I truly enjoy the Easter celebrations. This year, for personal reasons, for Choice , and for my family, I decided on a number of sacrifices i.e. Catholic Fasting, Abstenance from Meat, and to try and attend morning mass.

 

Maintaining this sacrifices have not been easy, and I was not 100% diligent. I managed to attend morning mass at least once a week, sometimes twice. Fasting was difficult especially during the Chinese New Year Period , and during weekends ( so I normally let myself off the hook). Abstinance was the easiest as I have been doing this in the past 2 easters. There was alot more prayers done during this easter, and overall it was a very spirtually fulfilling exercise. A wonderful part, is 2 colleagues have already said they'll join me next year for my lenten sacrifice.

 

Reaching towards the Holy Week, the lenten sacrifices certainly help me prepare myself to truly appreciate this celebration. This easter end up to be one of the most emotional and spiritually challenging one. Maundy Thursday was especially an emotional roller coaster for me, to reflect that someone was to suffer brutally at me. With the wrath and anger of hell lashing out at Him. And to know I can never repay His love and sacrifice. 

 

I would say this Lent and Easter has been wonderful , and I would definately repeat it. For next Lent, I will incorporate prayers, during the weekdays, as I am already skipping lunch.