The Word of God asks us to join the race of the apostle Peter and the disciple whom Jesus loved to intuit with the heart before seeing with his eyes and being confirmed by the same voice of the Risen Lord. Peter’s affirmation, on the morning of Pentecost, becomes a subtle question for us: Do you know …? The resurrection of the Lord is not a crushing revenge, but it is a whispered confirmation of how Love cannot be killed until we ourselves kill it within ourselves. The apostle Paul strongly exhorts us to seek the things above not as an escape from the world, but as the ability and will to insert the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth into the dough of history. The bread of the resurrection, which the Pilgrim breaks for the sad wayfarers of Emmaus, is not imposed but is offered to those who love without ceasing to meet, like women and to perceive the signs of life like that nameless disciple who could have our own name. Easter be for we have the opportunity to look into our hearts to discern what gives us hope of life and to remain faithful to it even – perhaps even above all – when it is cataloged as delusion. After all, the Easter Liturgy reminds us of this every year by making us read the first page of the Scriptures: by creating the world and, above all by creating man, the Creator would be the first to accuse him of delirium. In reality, the resurrection of the Crucified Lord reminds us that life is nothing but an insurrection of hope that illuminates the night of despair.

Commentary by b. Michael David, osb Community of the Koinonia de la Visitation

Translation by f. Mark Hargreaves, Prinknash Abbey