“Why do you look for the living
among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you,
while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered
over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.
Then they remembered his words.”
-Luke 24:5-8 NIV
Greetings,
Blessings to
you in this sacred time after to Easter. My hope is that your Lenten journey
has been formative, and as you’ve searched and reflected on your life, you
realized your brokenness and appealed to God. In return, I hope the Holy Spirit
reached back to you during Easter and you felt the thrill of new life!
We pastor’s love
to write grand pronouncements like this, don’t we? I do it all the time,
especially around Christmas and Easter. The words are so formal, so grandiose,
but have you ever wondered what they actually mean? As you’ve read in the
verses from Luke above, Christians stress Jesus coming back the dead as a part
of this season of Easter, which gives us so much hope for the end of our lives.
But what does resurrection have to do with what we do here and now?
Good
question! I’m glad you asked. In response I would tell you that resurrection is
not solely an end of life event. That’s when it’s most notable and complete,
yes, but resurrections really happen every day. There are so many examples out
there. A resurrection is when a critically ill patient finds meaning in what
they are going through. It’s happens when an addict decides enough is enough
and seeks to make a move towards sobriety. It’s when a person going about their
normal day has their eyes opened to a need and subsequently dedicates
themselves to it. Any time a person is able to welcome and alter their
existence through God’s presence, newness and novelty, resurrection occurs!
So how is it
occurring for you so far after Easter? I hope your lives are blooming like the
buds I see on the tree outside my window. Life is returning, and if we welcome
it in new ways, resurrection is at hand!
Count on it,
my friends. Even though Easter Sunday has passed, new life is always a breath
away when you seek the Spirit. We will
be seeking it here as a church over the next few months. On tap are a new
approach to Vacation Bible School, more visioning work with our leadership and
(dun, dun, DUNNNNNN) the Pig Roast. Get
geared up for it, friends. That’s the one thing about God’s new life you can
always count on. The Spirit is going to ask you to live it out in service and
dedication to our community! I am excited for it all and I hope you are as
well. May the grand words I started with bless you wherever you are! And may
the Risen Christ show you all the possibilities and opportunities that are available
now and in every season. Oops, that was another grand pronouncement, wasn’t
it? How about I end it this way . . .
God bless you, Nation. Much love to you all, dear friends and a happy continuing
Easter.
-Pastor Bryson
