I suppose if we think of Easter as more of a sacrament and less a miracle, its impact would likely have a greater effect on modern man. The proclamation of a miracle excuses us from having anything further to do with it. A miracle is God’s doing. A sacrament, however, places a demand on us for its existence. God performs miracles but men celebrate sacraments. God may work a miracle even without faith and he may work it apart from men. Man, however, is essential to the presence of a sacrament.
If Easter is to be a sacramental event, we must symbolize it for our fellow men, not only in the grace of God, but with our flesh and blood. Easter is sacramental every time one of us makes his life a source of light for his fellow man. Easter is sacramental when our words heal, when our hearts understand, when lesser values die in us for the sake of greater realities.
We are sacramental with Easter when men know us to be faithful. We are sacramental with Easter when our fellow men see us suffer not for selfish advantage but for their redemption. Easter is never more sacramental than when one man gives his life on behalf of another.
Christians seek to make Easter sacramental in their lives by their memory of Jesus. If Jesus is remembered, he has not died altogether. If the memory of Jesus inspires us to sacrificial love, Jesus is grace. Jesus is an Easter-maker.
Jesus became incarnate to not only teach us how to live our lives but to reside in Him through Jesus. When the priest says “in him through him and with him,” he’s reminding us of our participation in his birth, death and resurrection. (John 20:1-9)
Adapted from Anthony Padovano, Dawn Without Darkness
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