2nd week of Easter
For our Easter reflections, Call To Action has asked a variety of people of the LBGTQ continuum to write about how they experience the Risen Christ in their lives. How do you experience the Risen Christ in yours?
Where? How? When? do I encounter the Risen Jesus? I know the Risen Jesus when I am open to the grace that rolls back the stone that blocks my heart; when I believe – no when I know – I am baptized into the life death and resurrection; when I have the eyes to meet Him as my greatest friend on the road; when I have the courage to be Lazarus and listen, be open to the grace of the woman at the well, and say “yes” to the touch that healed Nicodemus.
I encounter the Risen Jesus when I sing.
Singing is the place of encounter where I can be freed and broken open. As the tears roll down my cheeks, I am defenseless. I am wide open. John must have been singing long and loud on Patmos. I am transported and transformed. There is a special grace in song that makes me know the invitation, “Do not be afraid.” I get it. I am resurrected. I am free!
Many years ago, a wise nun and dear friend said, “Owen, God talks to you in songs.” Since that day, I have paid attention to the endless melodies that run in my head. They are often quite surprising. Some days they are quite insistent. They are always true.
Once the stone of my hard heart is rolled back, I am free to be with the risen Christ, in the songs of people’s lives. These become a rich symphony of the boundless richness of our call to a baptismal life. This is it. I doesn’t get any better than this in this life. We are raised with Him. We know the risen Christ and it lights us on fire. We can sing with Miriam, “I will sing to the Lord, Our God is gloriously triumphant. Horse and chariot are cast into the sea.”
No more pharaohs in my life, no chariots or horses needed, no more stones. I am free!
Join me, won’t you and sing? What is your song?
Exodus 15: Miriam’s Song (Flaherty)
Chorus: I will sing to the Lord! Our God is Gloriously triumphant! Horse and chariot are cast to the sea.
My strength, my courage, my hope you have been my savior. My Lord, Abba, I praise your name forever more. (chorus)
You redeem your people and you plant them on your mountain. Jerusalem, Holy dwelling. Lord, you reign forever more. (chorus)
Your hands part the waters, your breath the seas obey. Lord God, of wonder I praise your name forever more. (chorus)
