Reflection: Christ is Risen! Alleluia!

Rolling Away the Stones: An Easter Reflection for the MSC Family

On Easter Sunday, we, the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart—religious and lay—rejoice not because we found answers in the tomb, but because we discovered He is not there. He has Risen! The empty tomb is not a void; it is a proclamation. It proclaims a love stronger than death, light breaking through darkness, and a Heart that beats again—for you, for me, for the world.
For those of us who live and breathe the Spirituality of the Heart, Easter is not just a celebration of Christ’s triumph—it is a call to conversion. A call to let His Heart, pierced and now glorified, enter our own hearts more deeply, transforming everything that is hardened, closed, or weighed down.

Easter Begins in Darkness
Mary Magdalene came to the tomb while it was still dark. Isn’t that where resurrection begins? In the quiet darkness of grief, loss, and unknowing. In the confusion and weariness of daily mission. In the fatigue of community life. Yet even there, the stone was rolled away.

As we gather at the tomb with Mary, Peter, and John, we notice the first sign: the stone is gone. This powerful symbol reminds us that before the Risen Christ is revealed, something must be removed. Something heavy. Something final. Something that seemed immovable.

So today, as MSCs, let us ask:
What are the stones in our own hearts and lives that need to be rolled away—so we too can encounter the Risen One, and rise with Him in love, hope, and renewed mission?

The Stones We Must Roll Away – As Missionaries of the Sacred Heart:
1. The Stone of Routine Without Passion
We risk becoming professionals of religious life—efficient but lukewarm. Easter invites us to rekindle the fire of our first love: a Heart on fire with zeal for God and compassion for people.
2. The Stone of Disconnectedness
Sometimes our hearts grow distant—from Jesus, from each other, from the people we serve. Heart Spirituality calls us back to intimacy: to know Jesus, to love Him personally, and to make Him known in every encounter.
3. The Stone of Individualism
Community is a gift, not a burden. Easter challenges us to move beyond isolated living and embrace a shared journey of vulnerability, fraternity, and mission.
4. The Stone of Wounded Relationships
Where there are divisions, misunderstandings, or old hurts between us, the Risen One brings healing. Let us have the bravery to forgive and seek reconciliation as members of one Heart.
5. The Stone of Clericalism or Superiority
As MSCs, we are not above others—we are among them, with them, for them. Easter invites us to humility and servant leadership, with the tenderness of the Heart of Jesus.
6. The Stone of Spiritual Emptiness
Ministry can drain us. Without regular contact with the Source, we risk burnout. The Resurrection is a call to return to the wellsprings: silence, adoration, contemplation—where His Heart speaks to ours.
7. The Stone of Injustice and Apathy
As followers of a Heart that suffers with humanity, we cannot be indifferent to the poor, the Earth, migrants, and the excluded. We are called to roll away the stone of comfort and respond with genuine compassion.
8. The Stone of Fear in the Face of the Future
Declining numbers, uncertainty in mission, personal anxieties—these tempt us to despair. But the Risen Lord whispers, “Do not be afraid.” His Heart still burns with love for this world, and He calls us to trust and go forward with courage.
9. The Stone of Isolation from the Laity
As MSCs, we are not alone in our mission. The Lay MSC family walks alongside us. Easter calls us to deeper collaboration, mutual respect, and shared formation—so that together, we may be a Heart of Christ in the world.
10. The Stone of War and Violence
In a world still torn by division, ethnic hatred, and geopolitical conflict, we as MSCs are called to be artisans of peace. The Heart of Jesus, pierced on the Cross, condemns all violence. Easter calls us to beat our swords into ploughshares, and to preach peace with our lives.
11. The Stone of Ecological Destruction
Creation groans. Forests are razed, rivers are polluted, and the poor suffer most. As stewards of God’s creation, we must rise to an Easter of ecological conversion. Our charism must echo Laudato Si’—to feel the wounds of the Earth in our hearts and respond with love and action.
12. The Stone of Digital Addiction and Distraction
Screens can consume us—stealing silence, community, depth, and divine connection. The Risen Christ calls us to unplug and reconnect to the Heart—through genuine presence, attentive listening, heartfelt prayer, and authentic communion with others.

He Has Rolled Away the Stone
The good news is this: God has already rolled away the stone. Death has been defeated. Love has triumphed. The Sacred Heart, once broken, now beats with new life and mission. Let us not live as if the stone is still there. Let us not cling to the tomb. Instead, let us rise with Him—boldly, joyfully, tenderly. Christ is Risen! Alleluia! Let us rise with Him—together, as one MSC family.

Thateus Darwin Francis, MSC (India)
Director- MSC Global Development Office, Rome.