Thoughts on an Easter Monday

Scripture

Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let’s not let it slip through our fingers. We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help. (Hebrews 4:14-16 MSG) 

Thoughts on An Easter Monday

One person’s happy moment is usually matched by someone else’s sorrow. The chocolate souffles and lemon meringue slices I made for our Easter dinner went down with happy nods in my direction on Saturday. Joyful times with family, good food and drink shared- all in the context of the highest points of our faith’s roots remembered. But I remembered friends who are celebrating their first Easter after the death of their spouse, child, or parent – one person’s happy day easily overmatched with another’s sorrow. 

On Good Friday I winced particularly at the moment Jesus’ lifeless body was stabbed by a soldier – an indignity to a human body. God’s vulnerability in the face of the misuse of power connected me to human indignities experienced in many human conflicts around the globe – Jesus shares pain with the broken and wounded who are vulnerable to powerful forces. 

On Sunday we raised a celebratory glass to King Jesus, risen and appearing to his friends, assuring them that the darkness had not overcome the light and death was swallowed up in his victory. We live out that hope in humility and vulnerability to the forces of life – but hopeful in the knowledge that resurrection is our greatest hope. 

Comfort comes in slow doses and joy needs to be tempered with compassion for those who can’t join in yet. One day all tears will be wiped away and all injustices will have been faced with the reconciliation of the world to God in our Lord Jesus Christ. That’s easy to say but often hard to live – so let’s stay with one another in it all. 

A Prayer for Today

Merciful God we operate in many different circumstances – joyful, sorrowful, hopeful, dread filled, and you know all of these circumstances and have compassion on us. But you also become one with us as we grow with you. One with us in our relationships, one with us on a lonely journey shaping yourself in us. Help us to have the awareness of your presence to enjoy it even for a moment …. For Jesus’ sake