Christ is Risen!
Christ is risen, Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Much like Christmas, we tend to quickly move on from Easter once the big day has been celebrated. Decorations come down, the leftovers are eaten, and Easter basket goodies have been enjoyed.
Anecdotally, the Sunday after Easter has one of the lowest attendances of the year (Father's Day is another). This isn't even in comparison to Easter Sunday, which will always have increased attendance numbers due to visiting family members, the ChristEasters (Christmas/Easter attendees), and folks looking for a new church. It's in comparison to all the other "regular" Sundays, where we are just coming to church because it's part of our life together.
I share this not to shame, but to illustrate my point: as a society--even as people of faith--we very quickly move on from the Day of Resurrection.
This last Sunday I mentioned that the church Season of Easter lasts for 50 days, just shy of 1/7 of our whole calendar year. 50 days of resurrection encounters and digging deeper into Jesus's teachings in light of his resurrection. 50 days of Christ is risen, alleluia! 50 days--7 Sundays--of Resurrection-focused worship and Thanksgiving for Baptism.
How then do we not just move on from Easter, but instead incorporate it into our daily lives?
Well, I have some (more) good news for you: by doing what God's people have always been invited and encouraged to do--worship, pray, and be in relationship with one another.
I've frequently said that I firmly believe a small part of why God called me to be a pastor was because if I didn't have to be in worship every week, I'd find some really good excuses to miss church every Sunday. Sleep, brunch, family commitments--and as they age, my kids' extracurriculars--all become an easier draw than church. And God knew--KNOWS--how desperately I need Jesus, and to be in community with other believers.
We all need each other. We need worship to reorient us to God and God's will for us. We need to be fed and nourished by the body and blood of Christ, and to repeatedly receive God's grace. We need to be held in love and care and community. We need the church.
Living as People of the Resurrection is as simple and as difficult as showing up. The tomb is empty because Jesus isn't there. He reminds us we cannot stay in that upper room, cozy and hidden away from the rest of the world. The tomb is empty, and Jesus sends out to proclaim God's power over Death by first equipping us.
We do not go out alone, and we do not go out unprepared. Worship, fellowship, and community strengthen us for the hard, joyous, world-altering work of proclaiming the good news:
Christ is risen, Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia!