Easter is far from over! We are so caught up in the glory of the risen Christ that Alleluia is the only word our hearts can muster. We are abiding in the joy of the Easter Octave.

What is an octave? There is such immense mystery to be unpacked in the Resurrection of Christ that Easter Day is prolonged for eight days. The octave is likely influenced by the Jewish tradition of eight-day feasts. We need these days to contemplate the great deed of God.

The Easter Octave has connections with the newly baptized at the Easter Vigil. For seven days following Easter Day, these neophytes, from the Greek for “newly planted,” wore their white baptismal garments, attended daily Mass and the Divine Office, made pilgrimage to the font of their baptism, and received instruction to help them understand the connection of their baptism with the Resurrection of Christ. The early Latin Christians referred to Easter Week as hebdomada alba (“white week”) from these white garments.

Yet, the Easter Octave is not only about this year’s neophytes. There was a custom where the Monday of the Octave was the fixed anniversary of the previous neophytes. The Octave acted as a way for all Christians to remember their baptism. This little gem of history reminds us to celebrate our baptism as a feast day by going to Mass, celebrate the sacrament of Reconciliation, and visit the place of your baptism. To celebrate your baptism as a feast day strengthens the Christian’s sacramental worldview.

As we celebrate the Monday of the Octave of Easter, we meet Peter and Mary Magdalene. Peter is empowered by the Holy Spirit and preaches a message handed down to all believers: The Christ whom we crucified, the Father has raised him up, and we are his witnesses. This proclamation appears several times in Acts (Acts 2:23-32, 3:15, 4:10, 5:30-32, 10:39-41). The later is something we often forget: we are his witnesses! As the neophytes bear witness, so do we.

Christ conquered death and prepared a place for us. Does this transmit into the way we live our lives? We live in the hope that death is never the final story. Christ has trampled over death and we live in him.

Our lives do not need to be put all together for the Resurrection to overtake us. The first to witness the Resurrection of Christ is Mary Magdalene who we meet in Matthew’s account today. Mary was fearful and overjoyed yet the Master met her on the way.

Life will overwhelm us with fear. Yet, the Lord invites us not to be afraid. Root yourself in his Risen Life. Go now and share this joy! He meets us on the road, he assures us of his presence.