The Promise

photo credit: St. Thomas Aquinas parish, College Station, Tx

I tuck my arm into my husband’s as we kneel during the consecration at Mass. I watch the communion line through eyes blurred by tears and listen to his steady voice blending with the  rich harmonies of Ave Verum Corpus, while beside him I shake like a leaf, my heart swelling inside. The children fold their palms quietly behind us, someone coughs, a baby cries, the fragrance of incense rises. We are all being transported to a moment outside of time, with a prescient knowledge of this path we have walked for years before, for years to come.

It is the time of year where in our minds we place ourselves at the Lord’s table, breaking bread with Him. We feel near to Jesus in the garden, striving to stay awake to pray. We become pilgrims walking up through Calvary, desperately wanting to wipe His face, share His cross, hold His hand…to comfort our Mother Mary. And then we go into hiding, broken hearted, weeping silently.

The darkness does not last and the Light returns to us again. We emerge, because the Promise we have waited for has been fulfilled. Jesus has triumphed over death and sin and love has conquered all, hope has been restored forever, and we become a joyful Easter people!

But in the here and now,  it is our turn to make a promise. He asks of us only one thing. A mission to bear His light and love to the world around us so that all may know the hope of eternal life through our beautiful savior, Jesus Christ, who loves us all.

“I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.” ~John 11:25-26