April 23, 2012
Off of the Easter High Yet?
Rev. Keith Perry
Hospice and Hospital Chaplain
The 2012 Easter observance is history. What did you do on that special day? How did you and your church celebrate? That day is considered, and rightly so, the high point of the Christian church year. Therefore, many special preparations are done at churches and congregations around the world. We are, in a way, on a spiritual “high” where all is joyous and we celebrate with great vigor and enthusiasm.
But now, Easter is over. The crowds at our churches are likely smaller than two weeks ago, and we may feel we are struggling again to find the great momentum we had on Easter. Life is difficult. People are in pain and suffering physically, emotionally and spiritually. Many are still looking for work. Some family relationships are still fractured and wounded. People continue to grieve losses of various kinds. This imperfect life goes on past the actual Easter celebration, doesn’t it? Are we already down from that Easter “high” of a few of weeks ago? This can happen so easily if we lose sight of exactly why we celebrate.
Almost every day, I am privileged to share with the sick and dying this great news of Easter that Jesus, our Savior, has died and risen again to defeat eternal death, opening the gates of heaven to all believers. This is the best news we can share and it can be shared every day of the year. For those whose days on earth are coming to an end and may be seriously questioning their past sins and the life they have led, this becomes news that brings the greatest comfort of all. Christ loves them and forgives them, and wants all to be saved and enjoy the perfection of heaven with their Savior and the saints who have gone before them.
The great resurrection chapter of the Bible, I Corinthians 15, says it so wonderfully: “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!”
Easter for this year is over – or is it? Celebrate it every single day, for yourself, and with others. The message is important 365 days a year. Let’s remain on that Easter “high” all the time. Live the message that Christ has risen, share it, and embrace it in all that you do to serve our Lord!
