We hope you have enjoyed reading “classic” reflections from Pax Christi USA Lenten reflection books over the past few weeks. Today’s reflection is from Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace Beatrice Parwatikar, taken from the 2008 Lenten reflection booklet, “Invited to transformation.”
Find additional reflections and resources on our Lent 2024 page.
reflection for HOLY SATURDAY-Easter vigil, March 30, 2024
by Beatrice Parwatikar
A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you.
Ezekiel 36:26
During the Easter Vigil, we enter the darkened church. Outside the fire is burning. Soon the priest enters the church with the Easter candle and says, “Light of Christ,” and we respond, “Thanks be to God.” Then all the candles in the church are lit from this one candle; we stand together against injustice and violence because Christ brought the light of justice and peace in his living of the Word.
In the readings of the Easter Vigil, we learn about how we are to live. We learn about what justice and peace in our world mean, from our relationship with all of God’s creation to our relationship with other humans, how we are to relate with them and create justice with the voices and bodies of all people…
I hope you can imagine being an African slave and hearing the words from the third reading from Exodus: these were words of hopeful freedom. In contrast, slaveholders and their ministers found passages in the Bible that seemed to say, “be happy with your lot in life.” But the secret church of the slaves in the clearings among the trees talked of how God would hear their cry and give them freedom. They sang, “Go down, Moses, way down in Egypt land. Tell old Pharaoh, ‘Let my people go!’” We must be ready to advocate and work for all people held in any type of bondage. We must sing for all people, “Let my people go!”
And then we hear Isaiah (55:1): “All who are thirsty, come to the water. You who have no money come and eat.” Isaiah could be speaking to those today who make a profit from water. In very poor countries, a growing practice diverts the water supply and privatizes it, making clean water unaffordable for millions. … When we sit down to eat, we must not only remember those with little or no food or water, we must set a place at the global table for them. We must share our abundance, simplify our lifestyles to put more on the global table, and demand food and water for those without. Isaiah continues: “My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says God” (Isaiah 55:8). We who believe and work for justice must have the thoughts and ways of the Creator, not of the marketplace.
And then the Good News of freedom for all through Christ’s resurrection! Mary Magdalene and the other Mary go to the tomb. While frightened, they stay to hear the message of the angel. The angel knew these women were followers of Jesus and gave them a message to share with the disciples who were not there: “He is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you.” … The incredible role these women played is pushed aside in the retelling of the Risen Christ. How many times have women’s roles or names been pushed aside or forgotten in the retelling of stories in important movements? …
As we celebrate the Risen Jesus and his message of freedom and justice for all, we recall our Lenten journey: “You wore repentant ashes. Fasted with discipline to understand those without food. Journeyed through your desert. You walked into the darkness and shared the Light of Resurrection. Now take your light of resurrection to places of darkness.”
Reflection:
Whose stories do you need to pay better attention to? Whose voices are missing in your life?
Ambassador of Peace Beatrice Parwatikar is a former member of the Pax Christi USA National Council and was a founding member of Pax Christi USA’s anti-racism team; she participated in the 2022 cohort of Peace Pairs. Her reflection for Holy Saturday appeared in Invited to Transformation: Reflections for Lent 2008, published by Pax Christi USA in 2008.
Thank You Pax Christi USA for The Lenten Reflections ! A Blessed Easter Season to ALL of The Risen Lord’s Creation !!! Peace and ALL Good, Brothers and Sisters !!!
Br. Richard Robert Rivard, MGC