Many years ago, I was engaged
in a program that taught catechists (Sunday school teachers) how best to
understand how and what they taught their students. In the course of one class
discussion, Tom, a middle-aged gentleman, lamented that catechism classes used
to be simple. Students memorized the answers to various questions so that when
queried by the bishop at their confirmation, they would know the accepted
answer. Familiar with this
complaint, I asked the class of adults a simple question: “What is a
sacrament?” They looked sheepish and puzzled wondering what answer would be
acceptable to me, their mentor. Finally, I said to them, “C’mon! You know the
answer . . . a sacrament is an outward sign instituted by Christ . . . .” They
all smiled, breathed a sigh of relief, and felt vindicated in their complaint.
But then, I asked another question, “All right, now what does that mean?”
Therein is the tough thing
about Easter. When asked about Easter, we are eager to repeat what we may have
learned: it is the day when we celebrate Christ’s rising from the dead. Yet the challenge for us is always the
next question, “But what does that mean?”
How would you describe the meaning of Easter to a group of young and eager
faces? To questioning teens? To adults for which memorized answers no longer
suffice?
I think we all approach Easter
like the first disciples, in a spirit of confusion and near disbelief. At first, those who were closest to
Jesus failed to understand the meaning behind this glorious miracle. Only
later, with the coming of the Spirit of Wisdom and Knowledge, the Spirit of
Understanding and Fear of the Lord, did they begin truly to piece it all
together. So, too, we need to
piece things together anew – to discover the power and impact of the
Resurrection in our individual and communal lives all over again.
So . . . what does it mean for
you to share in the risen life of our Savior? What did Christ’s triumph over
sin and death do for us here and now? No complex theological answers allowed!
Take some time this Eastertide to look at our lives and discover what is
different about us because we have been redeemed “by the blood of the Lamb” and
invited to share the life of the Risen One.
A tall order, this. For now,
though, let us simply bask in the light and rest in the joy that comes to us
because of Easter. Let us rejoice in the message that “He is risen. He is
risen, indeed!”
“Be not
afraid, the one for whom you look is not here. He is risen and has gone ahead
of you . . . “
Let us
rise and go to find him with open and joyful hearts.
With every wish for a truly
joyous Easter, I remain
David+
The
Rev’d Dr. David Alan Zwifka
Rector
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