Oh happy day to outshine all other happy days! The Lord is risen! The Lord is risen, indeed!
It’s easy to think that Christianity revolves around the crucifixion, however it is really anchored in the resurrection. Jesus’ celebrated triumph over the dead is the greatest mystery of them all and the greatest hope for humanity still. Those who follow the way of Jesus are called to be “Easter people” and to proclaim the themes of the resurrection story—life, love, hope, promise, inclusion, and so much more.
In mainline Catholic and Protestant churches, the festivities of Easter morning often make all other festival days of the year pale in comparison. Even the prior week’s Palm Sunday celebration now looks minuscule in comparison. The Christ candle, which had been extinguished on Good Friday, returns relit. White cloths, flowers, and decorations adorn sanctuaries, all symbolizing new life. And the joyful phrases that were forbidden during Lent are finally proclaimed again: Alleluia! Hallelujah!
The Church Calendar designates a symbolic and lengthy seven-week season to proclaim and celebrate Easter. These weeks are meant to be times of repeated rejoicing and revisiting the varying stories of the resurrection in the gospels. It is quite interesting how the different accounts handle the time after of Jesus’ rising from the dead, and I hope to explore them here throughout this season. (Mark 16, Matthew 28, Luke 24, John 20-21)
May we take the time during these next seven weeks to discover all the richness of the Easter season, and may the themes of the resurrection story inspire every aspect of our daily lives.
Relevant Reformation 