An Easter Reflection from Sr. Ilia

Easter is a beautiful season, bursting with renewal and wonder. It reminds us of the extraordinary power of God’s love—the power to raise what is dead into new life. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is not just a past event; it reveals our very purpose: to live renewed lives in God. Yet the path to resurrection is not one of ease. The journey Jesus walked was marked by darkness, betrayal, abandonment, and doubt. At any moment, he could have turned away; however, he remained faithful to his calling, embracing his life’s mission. 

Jesus died a thousand little deaths to break open the new reign of God. He shows us that death opposes life when we refuse to live. To be fully alive, to live into the fullness of life, is to die a thousand deaths, as well. We too must be willing to walk into the conflict of injustice, the cries of the poor, the struggle of naming the powers, the loss of what feels safe and known. We must walk by the power of love alone. Only in losing our lives and shedding our protective layers can we touch the wounds of life with the healing power of love. Through every act of resistance against what divides us and sets us apart—we realize the truth of our existence—we are one. 

Resurrection speaks of the present moment bathed in a new future, a new relationship with God, a new union by which life is gathered into a new creative energy of love. We too are part of this new energy when we profess, “Christ is risen!” We believe that new life is on the horizon of a new creation, a new future, a new cosmos. Fear no longer has us in its grip. We no longer fear death because we believe, wholeheartedly, that God is doing new things. 

By giving ourselves over to another in love, God rises up from the darkness of possibility into the brilliance of a new reality. Our lives are transformed by the newness of God’s energetic love. It is by love alone that we shall live forever. 

Happy Easter!
Sr. Ilia