He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.
~Matthew 28:6
I am so sad that I am not at Bethany this week. I mean, I’m writing this weeks ahead of time, so I’m sure that on the day you read this I am home cuddling with the new member of our family, exhausted and thinking about when I might nap next. And I am so thankful that I am able to be home after our baby is born for a few weeks, but I am a bit sad, because having a newborn means that we probably did not go to church on Easter Sunday.
And I love Easter Sunday. I love walking into the church building and greeting everyone with the familiar, “Christ is risen!” to hear the response “He is risen indeed, alleluia!”
There’s a certain joy that we feel together in worship on this day, because truthfully this is the pinnacle of our faith – our Lord conquering sin and death for us, and although yes it is a great time to gather together with family, to celebrate the coming of spring, it’s really about this new life that we receive in Jesus.
So this year I am probably watching a worship service online from my former internship site, or I might just be sleeping, but I hope that you celebrated on Sunday, and really since the season of Easter lasts until May, I hope you’re still celebrating!
How did you celebrate Easter this year? What are your favorite Easter traditions? What is something you might do differently during this church season to rejoice in the new life we have received?
