The hearts of Doris Miller’s students danced with Easter joy. A week before she had given each student a hollow plastic Easter egg.
Their assignment was to place a sign of Easter inside the plastic egg.
Today, Doris would open each egg and then ask the owner to explain how the sign related to Easter.
The first girl proudly explained that she had placed a beautiful plastic butterfly inside her egg because many Christians see the butterfly as a sign of resurrection.
Next, a boy read an equally inspiring prayer that he wrote about Easter and his hope of resurrection.
Student after student eagerly followed until only one egg was left.
Miss Miller opened the last egg but quickly put it aside.
The egg belonged to Jeremy, the disabled boy who made funny noises and annoyed her by telling everyone how much he loved her.
But in those early days of special education, his parents thought that, if he lived that long, he should stay in Doris Miller’s class until fall.
“Miss Miller! Miss Miller! How come you didn’t let me explain my egg?” demanded Jeremy.
The usually patient Miss Miller scolded him, “Jeremy, there is nothing in your egg. You misunderstood the assignment again!”
Silence! No one dared to speak.
Then Jeremy shouted, “But Miss Miller, didn’t you say that on Easter, Jesus’ tomb was empty because some bad guys killed Him, but the Father raised Him from the dead.”
Miss Miller was speechless. The bell rang. She quickly dismissed the class and retreated to the teacher’s lounge to wipe away the tears which flooded her face.
“God, please forgive me. Jeremy knows more about the Resurrection than I will ever know!”
Six weeks later at Jeremy’s funeral, there were 15 plastic Easter eggs. Classmates proudly explained what the eggs meant to anyone who wanted to know! Almost everyone did.
Signs of the Resurrection
Scripture tells us that the signs of the Resurrection were not only the empty tomb, but also the stone that had been rolled away, the burial wrappings, and the piece of cloth which had covered his head, not lying with the wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself.
Other signs were the appearances of the Risen Lord to the apostles and other followers.
Mary Magdalene was the first to discover the empty tomb.
When she arrived, it was still dark, signifying a Good Friday world without the resurrection.
Some spiritual writers believe that one of the most convincing signs of Jesus’ Resurrection was the transformation of the apostles after they received the Holy Spirit.
Since then, the Holy Spirit has transformed many other believers who lived and died for the faith.
In Romans 8, it says, “And if the spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead, is living in you, so also he who raised Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies. The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. For in hope, we are saved.”
In no. 1002 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, it says, “Christ will raise us up on the last day, but it is also true that in a certain way, we have already risen with Christ. For by virtue of the Holy Spirit, Christian life is already a participation in Christ’s death and resurrection.”
Pope Benedict said that the crisis of faith is really a crisis of spiritual hope.
We all have certain hopes such as financial security, health, a “happy marriage,” a better world for our children, but what is our ultimate hope? The answer is our faith in Jesus!
Meaning of Easter
A father shared that the loss of his young son in a tragic accident which gave Easter a new meaning.
He explained, “I always thought that Easter was bunny rabbits and Easter eggs, but when someone precious to you dies, Easter becomes everything, an anchor in a fierce storm, a rock on which to stand, a hope that raises you above despair and keeps you going.”
Theologian Wolfhart Pannenberg wrote, “The evidence for Jesus’ Resurrection is so strong that nobody would question it except for two things: First, it is a very unusual event. Second, if you believe it happened, you have to change the way you live!’’
During a Catholic funeral Mass, we express our hope that like Jeremy, the deceased will rise with a risen glorified body.
Because of the Resurrection, we believe that life is not a dead end with no exit, but the door to eternal life.
In first Corinthians 2:9, it says, “Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has it dawned on humanity what God has prepared for those who love God.”
When we renew our Baptismal promises at Easter, we ask Christ to transform us into his witnesses as he did the apostles.
When we faithfully live our Baptism, we hope to enjoy God’s gift of Heaven and a risen glorified body.
Let us hope and pray!
Fr. Donald Lange is a pastor emeritus in the Diocese of Madison.