Alleluia! He is Risen!
Alleluia! He is Risen!
He has risen indeed! Alleluia!
Easter, in my humble opinion, is the most significant moment of our entire church calendar. Generally Easter Sunday is our most well attended Sunday (which was certainly the case this year). Not only do we fill the sanctuary to capacity, but there’s a buzz in the air. Outfits are a little more colorful. Greetings are a little more joyous (see above). Pastor’s shoes are a little more glittery. These are all wonderful gifts worth celebrating! The problem is that that we have limited ourselves to this happening on a single Sunday, rather than for the entirety of a season, because indeed Easter is a season that encompasses 7 Sundays - all the way to Pentecost.
What would it look like for us to carry the excitement of Easter Sunday beyond one Sunday, into the days and weeks that follow it? Would it make the story of resurrection any less powerful, special or amazing? I can’t imagine such wonderful news ever becoming any less of Good News, even if it becomes Old News.
Would we run out of things to talk about because we only have 4 gospels and 7 Sundays? Perhaps, but I assure you I can talk about anything to anyone (I know, surprising) and perhaps it’s not just the empty tomb that we need to talk about, but what happens after it that is worth being reminded of.
I love that the Season of Easter ends with Pentecost, the moment the Holy Spirit is breathed upon the apostles as the church is born. What if the Spirit of the resurrection, with all of its excitement and “Alleluias!” followed us long after the Easter Bunny left with her eggs (I mean what’s up with the whole egg thing anyways?!?)?
I’m not sure what this would look like, but I’m willing to take the risk to find out, and invite you to do the same! Happy Easter-tide!!!