Easter, Buttercups, and Living in a New Creation

“I am certain of this, neither death nor life, nothing that exists, nothing still to come, not any power, not any height nor depth, nor any created thing can ever come between us and the love of God” (Romans 8:38-39).

Holy Week and Easter will be upon us in just a few days. Below is how a few authors wrote about Good Friday and Easter. New creation is used several times for Easter and brings to mind the theme of the Committee of 12 October 6-9 retreat: Living in a New Creation.

Good Friday: ”Suffering is a constant reminder of the pain of being human, but also one of the most elemental ways that we all connect with each other, because we all suffer terribly at some point. Suffering is not just ‘negative’; it is a bond through which we all touch each other. Suffering, truly, is the first grace.” ~ Ken Wilber

“… We lament Jesus’ death while living in hope that death does not have the last word on our destiny. We are born with a longing, desire, and deep hope that this thing called life could somehow last forever. It is a premonition from something eternal that is already within us. Some would call it the soul. Christians would call it the indwelling presence of God. It is God within us that makes us desire and seek God.” ~ Richard Rohr

Easter: “Christianity is the message of the New Creation, the New Being, a New Reality which has appeared with Jesus of Nazareth.” Christianity is more than a religion; it is the message of a New Creation.”   Thus to live in the Risen Christ is not to be dogmatic, entrenched in static beliefs, or focused on sin.  It is simply to express by one’s life that you have seen something new and you want to tell others” ~ Paul Tillich

“Instead of focusing on what happened to Jesus (about which we know nothing), let’s turn to the first witnesses and ask what happened to them. What was the “rising up” in their hearts that transformed them beyond their debilitating grief and trauma into becoming ardent witnesses to the experience that Jesus continued to be alive, even more radically than in his earthly life? ~ Diarmuid O’Murchu (Who will be the first presenter at the October retreat)

Buttercups: “In recounted how he had just finished a retreat; the highlight of the retreat was not interior prayer but staring at a buttercup flower. During his entire retreat, he stayed with this tiny little flower each day, fully present to it, being drawn into the miracle of its delicate life. I often think of John's experience because he discovered God in the most unexpected place, the fragile, delicate petals of a buttercup flower. ~ Ilia Delio speaking about the late Jesuit, John Haughey