Holy Week Devotions - Easter Sunday

Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which He looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which
He walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which He blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are His body.
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.
~ St. Theresa of Ávila
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Ours are the hands, ours are the feet,
Our are the eyes, we are His body.

When I was young, I became enamored with Hollywood musicals and the first one to capture my heart was "Easter Parade" starring Fred Astaire and Judy Garland. The finale of the move is a glamorous stroll down Fifth Avenue in New York City, dressed to the nines. One year I even asked the Easter bunny, not for chocolate in my Easter Basket, but FLOWERS, as Judy Garland received in the movie.

This view of Easter, although beautiful and inspiring, makes Easter an event, a day to enjoy, but when the day is over, we wait with anticipation until it comes around again. In St. Theresa's poem, Easter is an ongoing, never-ending task in which we participate. If we are Easter people, we continue the work of resurrection - bringing life and light - wherever we go, whomever we meet along the way.

If we consider ourselves to be the body of Christ, if we see ourselves and our fellow humans as Jesus' eyes, mouth, ears and heart, would we treat ourselves and our human siblings in a more loving way? Would our lips speak compassion to those with whom we disagree? Would our eyes see our neighbors are well-intentioned instead of looking upon others with judgement?

Ours are the hands, ours are the feet,
Our are the eyes, we are His body.

Let us go forward in the work of resurrection.
Happy Easter to you.