On one occasion, I arrived at a meeting around ten minutes early. Two people were already there, settling in and getting ready with their notebooks. After greeting me, they continued the conversation they had already begun before my arrival, and they gave me a brief overview of what they had been discussing.
The meeting took place during Easter Week, that is to say, we had just celebrated Resurrection Sunday.
One person recounted how, a few weeks earlier, he had participated in a retreat where a particular activity had a profound impact on everyone present.
Before proceeding to share the details of that experience, the other person also briefly shared how she had spent Holy Week. For her, it had been very different from previous years; yet, she had found great solace in the parish services, particularly in light of a personal situation she was going through at the time.
Afterward, the first person shared the impact of that specific activity from the retreat he had attended.
It was an activity in which each participant was asked to write their own obituary. Through an exercise in imagination set within a context of prayer, they wrote down what they hoped would be read aloud at their own funeral service one day.
Since the participants had already undergone some form of preparation for this activity, they immersed themselves completely, engaging with their whole hearts. Many were so deeply moved that tears streamed from their eyes. This activity led them to reevaluate their lives in a truly profound way.
The moment was honored with reverence, and those who wished to do so freely shared the thoughts and feelings that had arisen within them.
After a few moments of silence, they were presented with one final question:
“Now that you have ‘died,’ what will you do with the rest of your life?”
When I heard that question, it gave me goosebumps.
The Scriptures recount how Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went in search of Jesus’ body to anoint it. Yet, in stark contrast, Jesus, alive once more—came out to meet them. And they, as the Scriptures note, were filled with both fear and immense joy. Is it possible that, after facing inner deaths, you and I can also live with immense joy?
And—given the activity at that retreat—that was the question: What are you going to do with the rest of your life? Can you live it with immense joy?
During the Paschal Triduum, we are invited to participate in the mystery of the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
If you have had the experience of “dying” to something within yourself, have you asked yourself how you will live “the rest of your life”?
Have you asked yourself how to live after participating in the mystery of the resurrection?
If the Spirit leads you, share with Jesus the Carpenter what it was that you wanted to let die on the cross. And perhaps you will discover that you can live a new life, filled with immense joy.
Marisol
P.S. We can hear about the resurrection of Jesus in the readings for Easter Sunday, Year / cycle A.
