April 7, 2023
Here we find ourselves, yet again, in Holy Week. For those who have followed Jesus’ journey to the cross, we have yet to experience Maundy Thursday, the horror of Good Friday and, finally, Easter Sunday Resurrection.
The miracle of the resurrection is the most important miracle of the Christian faith. When Jesus Christ rose from the dead on the first Easter morning, he showed people that the hope he proclaimed was real, and so was God's power at work in the world, believers say.
Good News
All four of the Bible's Gospel books -- Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John -- describe the good news that angels announced on the first Easter: Jesus had risen from the dead, just as he told his disciples he would three days after his crucifixion.
But Resurrection is not a one-time event. In fact, it happens over and over again. Whether or not we can envision it, the cycle begins at the end of the summer season when the leaves end their lives and leave the branches they have adorned all summer. It happens when the glorious song of the summer birds wanes and is replaced by the sorrowful cry of geese as they head for warmer places.
It carries through the season of frozen times in winter; times when we and all creation feel entombed in our places of hibernation, awaiting the melting of the ground and the warming of the spring time sun.
It is then we know that the promise of new life is indeed true. The buds begin to appear on the trees, foreshadowing the new growth waiting to burst forth. The birds slowly return, full of new hope; searching for mates to begin the cycle of new life. Slowly, the flowers push through the earth and bring forth colour and fragrance. The bees and insects commence their summertime dance of pollination culminating in new life, new fruit, and the seeds so necessary to begin the cycle of new life, once again.
Yes, it will soon be Easter morning Resurrection. This cycle has happened for more than two thousand years now.
Glorious Resurrection! New Life! Hope!
My Easter wish for you is that each and every one of us can experience that same hope today.
My wish is that no matter what our situation, no matter what tears have blinded us or what pain, grief, confusion, helplessness or hopelessness we have been focused on, we not allow any of that to make us miss out on the greatest blessing we will ever receive: that Jesus is right there with us – and always has been!
My prayer for this Holy Week
Release your Spirit and let it blow through our feelings of hopelessness.
Gather us together as one people, agents of your grace and love in this tired world.
Move mightily through your church, for the world is hungry for what only you can provide.
Only you offer enduring peace.
Only you offer victorious hope.
Only you offer unconditional love.
Lead us through this week of uncertainty.
Let us experience your Easter promise,
may your victory be our victory and may
we be witnesses to your promise of unconditional love and eternal life.
Amen
In peace
Paster Beryl, DLM