Easter Without Bunnies And Eggs

Every year we celebrate the most important day in the Christian faith, Easter---Resurrection Day.

In recent years, Easter has been surrounded by the trappings of a secular tradition---bunnies, eggs---But this year, it's different.

A virus has stopped our world.

Most of us will not be driving to our chapel or cathedral or church. We'll be sitting in our home, waiting for a virus to run its course.

The trappings are gone.

Now, perhaps, we can see more clearly.

A thought about Easter, 2020.

As the women made their way to the tomb, early in the morning, they wondered how they would be able to roll the large stone away from the entrance. It was sealed shut. And it was heavy.

They loved Him. They were there to serve Him, and prepare His body properly.

When they arrived, the stone was rolled away and the body was gone and they were faced with the question: "Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here. He is risen" (Luke 24).

While they loved him and served Him, it was clear that they did not expect Him to actually be gone-- resurrected, as He had said.

It occurred to me that the experience of those women is the experience of our lives---in 2020.

We worry about how we will do certain things, deal with certain things, survive certain things, when in fact, the things we worry about are often not even a part of the equation.

Biblical Christians know and believe the Bible to be God's Word. Yet sometimes when we face challenges, we allow ourselves to be consumed with trying to construct a solution, rather than remembering what God has said.

God performs miracles. We don't. But we are His recipients.

Easter is such a time.

C.S. Lewis wrote in chapter 16 of his "Miracles:"

"The New Testament writers speak as if Christ's achievement in rising from the dead was the first event of its kind in the whole history of the universe. He is the 'first fruits', the pioneer of life; He has forced open a door that has been locked since the death of the first man. He has met, fought and beaten the King of Death. Everything is different because He has done so."

Because He lives, we too live. And yes, we can face tomorrow.

Happy Easter. He is risen. He is risen indeed.