Daily Reflection for Thursday April 15, 2021
Peace and Blessings, Friends and Parishioners,
We encourage you to reflect on Thursday's readings at this link:
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/041521.cfm
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
First Reading: Acts 5:27-33
Responsorial: Psalm 34:2 and 9, 17-18, 19-20
Gospel: John 3:31-36
Our reflection on Thursday’s readings:
But the one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what he has seen and heard.
John 3:31-3
From whose eyes do you see? I heard that question in a community gathering the other day. Someone in the group answered, “Can you imagine if we all saw the world through Easter eyes?” The readings give us some insight to what it means to look at the world with resurrection as our constant focus. John tells us that the one who comes from heaven testifies to what he has seen and heard. And the apostles, in the first reading, continue to spread Good News because they were witnesses to the resurrection. They were seeing with Easter eyes.
I wonder what this would be like, to see with Easter eyes always. I think of the great prophets of our time, that is, Dorothy Day, Sister Ardeth Platte, OP, and Saint Oscar Romero who saw the world through Easter eyes. Their focus was always on the incarnation in our midst—seeing God’s presence in all things. They saw the Good News in hard places and responded true to how Jesus teaches us to love.
In my lifetime, I have felt and experienced God’s love and grace. I yearn to see with Easter eyes always, but if I want to be honest with myself, I think I wear Easter glasses versus having Easter vision always. I take my glasses off when I feel I can see things clearly on my own. There are even times where I would lose my glasses only to find them very close to me when I need them most, on my head.
I know when I am not wearing my Easter glasses--when distractions, stress from the pace of life, and the never satisfied ego are all I see. Yet, when I reach to find my Easter glasses, I am grounded in peace and feel ready to serve because I too am a witness to His resurrection. I yearn to have Easter vision so I do not need my glasses anymore. I want to see through Easter eyes always.
May you see the world through Easter eyes today,
Margarita Solis Deal