Scottish Catholic Observer

The struggle to hold onto the true ‘reason for the season’ amidst the wave of secular celebrations of Easter is highlighted by SCO columnists and comment writers this week. They make excellent (no, not egg-cellent) points. While we as Catholics do our up most to keep the focus on the religious and the spiritual throughout Holy Week and into the Easter Tridium, perhaps we should not struggle quite so hard to balance the most important religious festival in our Liturgical calendar with what the rest of society is doing.

The fact that other denominations, and those who are not Christian, celebrate and keep Easter (and in fact Christmas) in their own way is in fact a lasting testimony to the fact that our society still recognises its Christian roots in spite of what some would have us believe.

Just as our Ash Wednesday forehead crosses and our Palm Sunday fronds are visible symbols of our Faith at this time of year, our Holy Thursday and Good Friday church attendance, followed by our Easter Vigil or East Sunday presence at Mass, are also opportunities to evangelise by example.

While it may always be human nature to mark our progress by comparing ourselves to others, perhaps this Easter we can master that weakness and focus less on what everyone else is doing and more on our own inner and parish community preparations for the coming of our Saviour, risen from the dead.

To a young child or non Catholics, an Easter egg may just be a treat, a Hot Cross bun a teatime staple, but to the rest of us they mean so much more.

This Easter, be lifted by the fact that Jesus’ death and Resurrection are being so widely recognised. Even if some of your neighbours only view this weekend as a spring break, let your own actions bear witness to the fact it is so much more. In doing so, perhaps you will help others along the path, or back on the path, of their own Faith journey. Who knows how many could be joining the Church this time next year at the East vigil. And your efforts can certainly do your own convictions no harm.

At Easter we remember Jesus’ sacrifice and love for us and we share that with one another, among family groups and friends. While Easter gifts may be exchanged, unlike Christmas the focus this weekend is naturally more on the spiritual than on the material.

May the joy of Easter find a welcome at your door and in your hearts.

Have a very happy and Holy Easter.