Greetings in Christ!
We have been going through tremendous difficulty, both in our country and around the world, due to Covid-19 or Coronavirus. Many businesses are shutting down as well as numerous cancellations and postponements of events we took for granted only a few short weeks ago.
Yet, let me remind you today that Easter is NOT CANCELED! Indeed, we may celebrate the Resurrection a bit differently this year than we ever have. Still, I believe because Jesus rose from the grave, we have tremendous hope for today, tomorrow, and all eternity!
The month of April reminds us that Easter is more than just one day. Easter is an “every Sunday” celebration during which we come together to receive the fruit of the cross and resurrection of Jesus—the forgiveness of sins and the certainty of eternal life with God. Easter is also an “every day” celebration in which we live each day trusting in God through Christ, knowing that Jesus is “the resurrection and the life” (Jn 11:25) for us.
So what do we do now as we go forth from the empty tomb? Let us follow the example of the first witnesses of the empty tomb. After the two angels reminded Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women that Jesus had risen, St. Luke tells us that “they remembered the words, and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest” (Lk 24:8-9, emphasis mine). They went forth from the tomb changed by the resurrection of Jesus. They went forth from the tomb to bring an “every day” witness of God’s power over Sin, death, Hell, and Satan himself.
Similar to the women at the empty tomb, we are “every day” witnesses and participants in the resurrection of Jesus. We believe and are baptized. We have the hope of eternal life. We have the joy of the resurrection living inside of us. Also, like the women at the empty tomb and the eleven disciples, we have vocations or stations in life that God has given to us as gift. Most of us are not fishermen, but all of us have one or more of these callings: father, husband, mother, wife, son, daughter, brother, sister, grandparent, employee, retiree, friend, and neighbor. Each of these callings comes with a set of duties and responsibilities. Let us share this wonder gift of the resurrection, others will take notice and God will bless your faithful work by giving you opportunities to “tell all these things to all the rest” (Lk 24:9).
Now, we go forth from Easter Sunday and the celebration of the empty tomb free as God’s forgiven children in Christ. Now we go forth empowered by God’s Spirit living and active within us to live in the joy of the resurrection as “every day” witnesses. The Journey Continues. Great Things are Still Happening.
In His Service
Pastor Hunter