What Happened to Easter?

Thoughts for the Day, April 13, 2020

As Easter Sunday came to a close, I felt a deep hole in my soul thinking what just happened? Was that Holy week? What happened to the rituals like the palms waving up and down as the children enter church on Palm Sunday? Where were the voices yelling “Crucify Him” during the Passion reading? What about the Communion table set with all the white covered chairs, the black one for Judas, and the purple chair for our Lord on Holy Thursday? What happened to  the cross decorated with the pink flowers and the white lilies on the altar Easter Sunday—and all the people—the community  of believers that express excitement because He indeed is risen? What happened to it all?

Scripture makes it clear that one sign of union with God is unity with each other. No doubt, being with each other is a clear and vital part of our faith, but I wonder if God is trying to teach us something very different this year? While being with other believers is critically important, it does not and cannot replace being  alone with our Lord.  That is the place we obtain our power, our love for one another.  

Maybe He is saying quit being concerned with external things and spend this time with Me? Maybe He is telling us to be thankful for quiet days and time alone with Him.  Maybe He is reminding us of the words from John “I am the vine; you are the branches…apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Perhaps He is telling us that all the rituals and traditions  help us understand Him better,  but they are just that—rituals and traditions.  Maybe he is telling us that  our time with fellow Christians is important but this is a time to let our life merge with His. And although this is an invisible transaction, it speaks volumes in the spiritual realms! Have a blessed day in His Presence!