HALLELUJAH

 

As we draw closer to Easter Sunday, I have a few thoughts to share about this season. Yes, I used that word correctly because I am United Methodist and we do celebrate the seasons of the Christian year. We consider ourselves a “big tent” denomination because we believe there is room for everyone. That means some congregations emphasize the traditional liturgies, and others are much more relaxed. As I said, room for everyone.

LENT

But I digress. We are currently in the season of Lent, which is the 40 days prior to Easter. This is a time when we may choose to sacrifice something like a favorite food, watching television, or shopping on Amazon only once a week instead of daily. Or we may choose to take on something like daily Bible reading, praying more often, or taking more naps (which is good for spiritual as well as physical self-care).

Lenten habits lend themselves well to checklists. And I love checklists. There is an endorphin rush when I make that check mark beside a completed item. So Lent is an opportunity to make a spiritual/sacrificial checklist, and this year was quite a lengthy one for me, thanks to Adam Hamilton. (Read Adam Hamilton with gratitude and a bit of sarcasm.) I am being careful to ensure that the checkmark high isn’t mistaken for a transformed heart.

EGGS

Geordan is in confirmation class this year, and one day he asked what bunnies have to do with Easter. It seems Pastor Luis did not cover that.

I tried to explain the eggs as signs of new life, and symbols of the open tomb. But he didn’t feel I had explained the Easter bunny. I researched and discovered that it was a German tradition that Osterhase, a magical hare, laid eggs for children. And baskets evolved from the nests children made for Osterhase. And the chocolate eggs were a marketing tool for Cadbury chocolate company.

We dye eggs in my family. Some of the artists are of the dunk it and done variety. Others are the carefully-dye-then-add-a-sticker-or-two crafts persons. And two (you know who you are) are the take-all-day and produce something akin to the Faberge eggs of Russian nobility.

Then everyone enjoys the confetti eggs. Throwers and Watchers use a lot of energy laughing.

EASTER SUNDAY

In all the fun and laughter that are part of the religious and cultural traditions, followers of Jesus Christ look forward to re-living the miraculous, breath-taking, life-changing, and exciting moment that established the most holy season of the Christian calendar.

In Sunday school, Michelle shared that faith and fear are both choices. I agree. And I choose faith.

Faith that God sent Jesus to show us what the Kingdom of Heaven is supposed to look like here on earth.

Faith that God loves everyone. Everyone. And that God expects us to do the same.

And faith that after living among us and being crucified, Jesus was resurrected.

In some congregations, members use a traditional greeting and response on Easter morning. It reflects the response of the women who discovered an empty tomb.  

 

Christ is risen

He is risen indeed.

 

Amen.