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Commentary

By Liz Quirin

Musings About One Particular Easter

My son sprawled across the hearth in front of the fireplace, raised himself on an elbow supporting his head in his hand. He was about 8 years old at the time, but I remember it as if it were yesterday. It was a soggy Easter Sunday, and the bunny had hidden the eggs in the house. This was no dumb bunny for sure, and considerate — he didn’t want the kids to get wet or track mud into the house at the end of the hunt.

With “seriously, mom” written all over his face, my son asked: “Are you the Easter bunny, mom?” I sat for a long moment on the sofa and thought about his question. I had just finished reading an article about why parents shouldn’t lie to their children about anything, so, in light of the article, and on the spot, I answered: “Yes, I am.” Wow, what a blow this was for all of us. Why did I tell him, he wanted to know, and what did this mean about Christmas? Don’t ask, I replied, and we sat in silence for some minutes.

I think about that fateful Easter morning almost every year as my nieces and nephews scour the lawn for eggs and other hidden treasures. Should we be filling our children’s heads with magical creatures like rabbits that deliver eggs, assorted chocolates and other treats? Why not an Easter chicken? That would make more sense than a rabbit delivering eggs. The whole concept, from a logical standpoint, makes no sense.

However, when we recite nursery rhymes, sing our children lullabies or regale them with tall tales, hardly any of them can be placed in the real world. When you’re 3 or 4 or maybe even 8, believing that some creature or someone knows you and cares enough about you to visit and bring you a gift can be more than enough reason to believe. Why was it easier to believe a rabbit was bringing gifts than your parents?

While children will be hunting for Easter eggs and we will be cheering for them to find their treasures, we know the importance of Easter resides in a far greater and more important mystery, the paschal mystery of the dying and rising of Jesus Christ in a very special way during liturgies across the diocese and around the world. We also know of the gift Christ has given to each of us through the Eucharist that we can share at every liturgy.

Throughout our lives we view the same traditions, celebrate the same holidays with new eyes because of the changes, and hopefully the growth we have experienced. Easter egg hunts don’t thrill us in the same way they did when we were children or when our children were small.

What never changes from day to day or Easter to Easter is the love Christ has for us and shows to us through our love for him and for each other as we see Christ every day in one another. Happy Easter!