3rd Sunday of Easter
R. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
Written by Sandra Derby
Recently, I was part of an event at school registering the Freshman we expect to welcome next fall. Sitting at tables with my colleagues – greeting these freshmen-to be and their parents - I noticed a lightness in my spirit that I had long forgotten was part of me. Without realizing it, I seemed to have managed the challenges of the pandemic by shutting down a bit. This “lightness of spirit” felt foreign, forgotten, yet so very welcome! The energy and exuberance in that room woke me up, brought me back to life! I recognized myself for the first time in a long time, and my gratitude overflowed into a joy I couldn’t contain. I felt a bit like our psalmist today: “You have turned my mourning into dancing!”
This Third Sunday of Easter finds us between Divine Mercy Sunday and Good Shepherd Sunday. It is interesting to note that the psalms of those two Sundays express unabashed, overwhelming, hard-to-contain joy! Though the psalm for this Sunday begins with songs of praise and thanksgiving for God’s saving action, it also acknowledges the struggle - perhaps even despair – that has been part of the story. Our thanksgiving is in response to a God “who has brought us up from the netherworld” and preserved us “from among those going into the pit.” I don’t know about you, but there have been times these last two years that I have felt a bit like I was going into the pit, if not the netherworld!
Easter is an Alleluia season, to be sure – but it does not forget the rest of the Paschal Mystery. Though our lens is one of Resurrection and new life, the psalmist reminds us - and gives us permission to acknowledge – that it is the whole Mystery of Christ that we embrace. We are reminded of this whole Mystery each time we renew the promises of our Baptism – or make the Sign of the Cross. The glory of this season is that, no matter where we are on our journey, the promise of new life is embedded in every struggle and challenge. Death does not have the last word! We can be assured that the weeping that comes at nightfall will be transformed into rejoicing, and our mourning into dancing. That is the promise of the Resurrection!
Surely it was unbridled joy that made our impetuous friend Peter jump out of the boat into the water! Peter teaches us to embrace the whole of Christ – to jump right in! Ultimately, embracing the fullness of the Paschal Mystery is what made Peter– and makes us – capable of hearing and responding to Jesus’ command: “Feed My Sheep.”
Reflect on a time when you became aware of God turning your “mourning into dancing.”
What are ways that God intervenes in your life to “rescue” you?
Write a litany of praise and thanksgiving, acknowledging times of struggle that have been transformed to experiences of joy.
Sandra Derby is a musician and educator who currently teaches Junior and Senior Theology courses at St. Agnes Academy in Houston, Texas (and is absolutely crazy about her students!). Sandra has been a music minister for more years that she cares to mention, and is grateful for opportunities to break open God’s Word and share faith through music, retreat ministry, and long conversations over a good cup of coffee.
Pray with today’s psalm.