Easter

Easter is the single most important event in the history of the world. The way the Church celebrates it tells us just how important it is.

First of all, we take a whole season to prepare for it. We begin Lent with a penitential service and the imposition of ashes. Then we use the next several weeks to fast and abstain, to pray and meditate, to look inward and then to do outward acts of charity.

We recall the events of Holy Week beginning with the glorious Palm Sunday service. On Holy (or Maundy) Thursday we recall the institution of the Lord’s Supper, including Jesus washing the feet of His disciples. This service is given to us to remind us to be servants to each other, and it is also a great lesson in humility.

After the altar is stripped and the Church is emptied of all ornamentation, we are invited to spend an hour with Jesus in prayer as we keep the vigil with Him until our Good Friday service.

Once again we follow Jesus to Golgatha in the Stations of the Cross. This reminds us that there is suffering in the Way of the Cross. We keep Holy Saturday with the Church as we enter into the contemplative silence of the tomb, which is the final preparation for the Resurrection.

Finally, we are ready for the Resurrection; and the Church celebrates the glory of the Resurrection in all the Splendor that She has. We have beautiful music, rich vestments, colorful flowers, and joyful processions – all the best that we have because HE IS RISEN!

In the Resurrection we are assured of our own resurrection. He has trampled down Hell and the Devil, opened to us the gates of Heaven and Eternal Life, and we know that we will live with God forever in heaven. Here and now, we can live lives of faith and hope in the sure and certain knowledge of the Resurrection.

Not only do we have that assurance, but we experience the healing power of Jesus in renewed and healed relationships; we leave behind lives damaged by sin as we accept the forgiveness of our own sins; we recover from serious illness and are able to live the remainder of our lives as God sees fit, with renewed strength and health. We also know that Christ is with us in our pain and suffering as we suffer the loss of loved ones. He stands with us as we grieve, and we no longer grieve like those without hope.

He has overcome suffering and death for us, and this Easter may we come to a deeper experience of the Risen Christ in our faith and in our daily walk with Him!

Text by Donna Downen