Easter - The Great Fifty Days

The high point of the Christian liturgical year is the celebration of the Easter Vigil and the proclamation that Christ is Risen! Since the Second Vatican Council many parishes have implemented the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults or the RCIA as most of us know it.  Many parishes at the Easter Vigil now experience the initiation of new Christians through Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. It also provides all the baptized assembly an opportunity to renew their own commitment to Christ and his Church as they are reminded of their own initiation. 

The Church calendar tells us that the eight days after Easter Sunday are as one. That is, the solemnity of Easter lasts until the following Sunday and the celebration of the Eucharist each day is treated like it is Easter Sunday every day.  In fact, the whole of the fifty days of Easter should be treated as if it is one continuous Sunday!

Mystagogy

The RCIA makes mention of this special time for the newly initiated which has the title Mystagogy. This word is hard to translate but it means those new Christians should use this time to reflect upon their experience of full life in the Church. The neophytes, (as the newly initiated are referred to) still attend meetings with their sponsors and other members of the RCIA team to focus on their participation in the sacramental life of the Church, and also to reflect upon where they might see themselves taking an active role in the mission and life of the Church.

But this time of Mystagogy should also be understood as a time for all the community to reflect on its life and mission in the world. The liturgy of the Easter season aids both the neophytes and the rest of the community in this time of growth. In fact Mass for all the Sundays of the Easter Season was at one time called the Mass of the Neophytes and it is important that parishes with new Catholics make a special effort to be very welcoming during these weeks and remember them in the prayers of the faithful. 

Easter Unfolds Through the Word 

To help us reflect on what it means to be incorporated into the life of the Risen Christ the readings of Easter provide a rich diet of scripture. 

All through Easter the first reading at Mass (which normally comes from the Old Testament) is from the Acts of the Apostles. Acts (written by St Luke) unfolds the story of the infant Church from the day of Pentecost to the spread of the Gospel all through the Roman empire, the conversion of St Paul, and details of his missionary journeys, finally ending in Rome itself. It tells us of the enormous enthusiasm that the early Christians had in spreading the good news of Jesus Christ even though at times they met with opposition and other practical difficulties. But their conviction was real and sincere and their experience of the Risen Christ was powerful when they gathered together for ‘the breaking of the bread and the prayers.’    (Acts 2:42) 

The Gospel passages begin with the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus to his disciples. On each occasion they seem unsure and are hesitant in accepting that it is truly Him but their doubts vanish as his identity becomes clear in the familiar places of their own lives. 

As we move on into the Easter season we are drawn back to earlier passages in the gospel of St John when Jesus at the Last Supper is speaking to his disciples about God’s purposes for them after his death and resurrection.  

We might say that Jesus was briefing his followers for the task of spreading his message to the whole world.

As we move closer towards Pentecost and the conclusion of the Easter season the Gospel reading from St John focuses more closely on the promise of the Holy Spirit to give life, direction and impetus to the followers of Jesus after his return to God. (The celebration of the Ascension occurs as part of the Easter season.)

Pentecost – The Church Is Born

The great fifty days concludes with the celebration of Pentecost. We remember on this day how the Holy Spirit came mightily upon the apostles and how they went out and preached in Jerusalem and were understood by peoples of many nations and cultures. Their fears, anxiety and hesitancy were gone - their single focus now was on Christ. 

Pentecost reminds us that the Gospel of Jesus Christ can speak all languages and cultures and is available to all people. But St Paul in his writing reminds us when he puts the question, ‘how will they hear without a preacher?’      (Rom 10:14)

By the end of the Easter season we should all be renewed and reinvigorated for the task of bringing Christ to the world. There is life to be had after the Triduum and this Season builds upon the discovery of the empty tomb and encountering the Risen Christ as he speaks to us today.

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This article was originally published in ‘Liturgical Seasons’. ©  Diocese of Parramatta. 1999, 2000, 2007. Reprinted with permission.