What a thrill it must have been for a few of Christ’s disciples, and the women, to discover that he was no longer in the tomb some 2,000 years ago. That very act became the focal point of history and still persists. Hope is now available to all who express faith in Jesus Christ, align their lives with his teachings, and share the good news of his resurrection. Christianity allows believers to be Eastered every day of the year, without having to wait for this one special day of the year.

At Easter time, I love to share this beautiful N.T. Wright quote from his book “Surprised by Hope”. It inspires a true re-examination of the way we celebrate Easter.

“Easter week itself ought not to be the time when all the clergy sigh with relief and go on holiday,” Wright says, “It ought to be an eight-day festival, with champagne served after morning prayer or even before, with lots of alleluias and extra hymns and spectacular anthems. Is it any wonder people find it hard to believe in the resurrection of Jesus if we don’t throw our hats in the air? Is it any wonder we find it hard to live the resurrection if we don’t do it exuberantly in our liturgies? Is it any wonder the world doesn’t take much notice if Easter is celebrated as simply the one-day happy ending tacked on to forty days of fasting and gloom?”

It is an uneasy time in this country and the rest of the world right now. Maybe it’s time to unplug, and reconnect with the ultimate source of power and love.

Happy Easter 2022!!!

ct