As I write this, we have just entered the Church’s most special time of celebration. (Yes, even more special than Christmas.) We are celebrating the Three Days (also called the Triduum). During this time, we remember Jesus giving us a new command to love one another, but also to share in the Lord’s love for us, Holy Communion. “Do this in remembrance of me.” We then recall Christ’s suffering for our sake. On Good Friday, Jesus gave his life so that we might live with him forever. Christians argue about the mechanics of this mystery, but somehow, someway through the love of God, those who trust in Jesus will share in eternal, abundant life. And finally, we celebrate Easter (traditionally called Pascha) with shouts, “Jesus is risen! He is risen indeed!” We welcome the day and one another in celebration of Christ’s resurrection.
But is that really, finally it? No! The Church celebrates the gifts of Easter for fifty days. During the Season of Easter, we will hear tales of the early Church and promises of Christ coming again. The Easter cycle concludes with Pentecost, the day we remember the Holy Spirit descending upon the first people who will become “Church.” Empowered by that same Spirit through our faith and baptism, we share in all the gifts of being Church together with them and all those saints who will come after us.
And even then, it isn’t over. Each Sunday is meant to be a little Easter. We welcome new members to Christ’s family through baptism. We regularly recall and share in the Lord’s Supper. We remember the sacred stories of God’s love for us and especially the Risen Christ. We are a Paschal People called to gather so that we can be sent out to point others to the love of God; the love made most clear through Christ’s suffering, death and resurrection for our sake.
In our life together, Jesus proclaims we are to be his body. People will see Jesus through our shared fellowship, worship and service as we love one another. And as with the disciples on the road to Emmaus, we might just catch a glimpse of the Risen Christ on our way. The promises of scripture might even begin to burn just a bit more warmly within us, perhaps with greater clarity and certainty, as we walk this road together.
Dear Church, I pray we experience a blessed Easter, a life with Christ which lasts forever in joy.
“Praise the Lord, all you nations! Extol him, all you peoples! For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 117)
Originally published in the May 2019 newsletter of Christ Lutheran Church, Fredericksburg, VA.
Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations for this article are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) translation.
© 2019 The Rev. Louis Florio. All content not held under another’s copyright may not be used without permission of the author.
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