Christ is Risen! Alleluia!

Sharon McRann

On Sunday, we sang a children’s hymn called “Every Morning is Easter Morning From Now On.” The words of the hymn speak to us of the hope that Easter brings. The song goes on to say, “Every day’s resurrection day, the past is over and gone. Goodbye guilt, goodbye fear, good riddance! Hello God, hello sun! I am one of the Easter People! My new life has begun!” Resurrection hope is so important to our lives. Christians believe that Christ was raised from death to life and because of this we know hope. We know that in spite of the deaths of our lives. . .the sorrows and disappointments, the hurt and pain, we will live again. . .things will get better. Raised from death to life, those who are depressed feel a sense of light in the darkness; those who are suffering find peace for today and hope for tomorrow. Those who have lost a loved one, are freed from fear in someone who is there for them. Raised from death to life, we begin to hear a life-giving voice that tells us, “Yes, we are good enough. . .Yes we can do it!” We begin to see the evil around us and strive to bring about change. We get involved for the good of others and we remember to say, “I’m sorry” to those we have hurt. Every morning is Easter morning from now on if we remember to live as the one whose resurrection we celebrate. Every day is resurrection day when we strive to bring new life to those around us. . .those whom God love. Then and only then will we be able to say goodbye to guilt and fear and hopelessness. New life begins when we love one another. . .not just those with whom we’re familiar and with whom we agree. . .but every person and every creature that God has made. God loves God’s creation all of it — how can we do any less? In the words of Sharon Moon, “Just when we thought it was over, God, when we’d packed our hope and headed home, back to the same-old, same-old. . .Life bursts through! Stones thrust aside! Life breathed in stifling tomb! Light pierced dark crypt where we had laid you to rest thinking we were finished with you. Who would have guessed? Life where we expect death! God, burst your Easter life into our tombs!" Amen! The Resurrection is the basis of Christianity. Each year as we join in the festive Easter celebrations we are faced yet again with the question, “What do you really believe about the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth? Is it an ‘idle tale?’ What about your own resurrection? In what way is this truly Good News for all? Can resurrection be more than a one-time only event? Is it something that happens in our own lives every day? Can we be an Easter People and bring life and hope and resurrection to others? Is this what Christ died for. . .that we might have new life and have it abundantly. . .that we might bring new life to all others? Our own resurrection stories often come to us in personal times of crisis. It is only in hindsight that we recognize God’s sustaining presence during those most difficult times. It is in remembering the crisis that we begin to remember God’s presence and God’s strength. Each time we experience God’s presence, we become more amazed and grounded in the resurrection experience. Let us accept the challenge this year to become aware of all of the resurrection experiences of our lives. . .to recognize and acknowledge God’s presence in our life; to recognize the “Risen Christ” working in our hearts and in the world, and to act as though Christ were standing among us today.