Easter morning was an amazing day full of love, laughter, and the Holy Spirit. The church that I serve had undergone a major transformation, and to have so many new visitors be in the space, followed by a powerful time with God, was, well, a great morning. It was one of those experiences when I found myself looking around and saying, “Wow.” I felt as if the church and all that God was doing through our community was clearly on display. I was incredibly humbled by the response, the visitors, and the Spirit that was following through the church.
The day after Easter can often feel as if all the air has been let out of the balloon. The church has taken a collective deep breath, and now that we are past this major church holiday we can go back to business as usual. But here is the thing: I don’t want to go back. I don’t want to forget the transformation that happened in the church, and I certainly don’t want us to forget how the Risen Christ transforms us forever.
Easter is a SEASON of transformation, not just a day. Most people tend to forget that Easter is a season in the church, designed to take us down a path that involves personal revelation. In the earliest church tradition, the fifty days after Easter Sunday were often called Eastertide, and were meant to help form new Christians in their faith. The basic thought was that if you were new to the faith the time between Easter Sunday and Pentecost was the best time for new Christians to integrate into the faith.
In today’s modern world, we use this time period less and less. However, I would suggest that maybe we are to be challenged by what happened on Easter Sunday. How are we different because of what we profess happened on Easter?
Last week I felt as if I had an Easter hangover. I didn’t want to write, I didn’t want to talk to people, I didn’t want to do anything. It was almost as if I were mourning the loss of Easter Sunday. What I forgot was that Easter isn’t a flash-in-the-pan event, it is a season that is designed to transform us and deepen our relationship with the Risen Christ.
As I reflect on this in my own life, I think that I am being reminded that God consistently shows up in miraculous ways. While my devotion to God may sometimes be inconsistent, God’s love for me never is. The truth is, I shouldn’t be surprised at what God did on Easter Sunday because God always shows up. I’m going to celebrate the rest of the Easter Season by acknowledging God in the room, to show gratitude for all that He continues to do, and remember that even the most “normal” days in the church are touched with the hand of God.
How has Easter impacted you?
What is God working on in your life?