The Aftermath
For me, Easter Sunday was a glorious day! I was so happy to be a witness to the baptism of five of our church members and the lunch following was a wonderful kind of chaos. I almost forgot that it was the first Easter I have not spent with my family…ever. Easter tends to be a holiday on par with Thanksgiving and Christmas for a preacher’s family. But despite missing them a little, I was so thankful for the chance to celebrate Christ’s resurrection as an event just as real as his crucifixion. I know my Redeemer lives!
Betsy made the comment Sunday morning that we spend 40 days focused on the devastating events that led up to Easter, but then only spend one day on the celebration of what actually happened on Easter. This thought struck a chord in me. Why don’t we spend 40 days praising the Father for victory over death?!
This week has seemed like one giant blah so far and now I wonder if it is because I have already forgotten what Sunday means to us as Christians. It is obviously hard to be mindful of the glorious act of the resurrection moment by moment…at least it is for me. I think, though, that we should make a greater effort to realize what joy we should know and feel because of Christ’s selfless act. There is a line in one song I love that says, “Your joy is mine…yet why am I fine.” This is exactly the point! I don’t want to walk through life being fine, but instead constantly in awe.
However, have you ever tried to go through a single day filled with awe at life and the world around you? It is not an easy task. The second that one too many drivers cuts you off in DC traffic, admiration and praise fly out the window. But even if every day I can’t remember the resurrection and live life in awe and thank God for the peace that passes all understanding, I can try. So I would love for you all to join with me in this challenge. As hard as it is to give things up during Lent, now is the time to relish what He gives us in the end…
In churches with calendars, they have a whole Easter Season and I’d never really considered why. This is a good challenge Haley.
I agree with Danielle. We in more evangelical circles have missed out on focusing more deeply on the resurrection which is our the foundation of our hope as believers in and disciples of Christ (I Peter 1:3). Our redemption is through Christ’s death on the cross; our power is through His resurrection. Spending several weeks after Easter Sunday thinking more intently about that subject could be very helpful in the lives of those of us who claim to be Christ’s followers.