Easter

"Now it begins!" On Palm Passion Sunday, I was deeply moved by the contrast of the day. Like many other Christians, that day, I waved my palm branch and shouted my "Hosannas" as we recalled Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem. As always, it is difficult for me to fathom the change in temperature he found in Jerusalem. Didn't the crowd follow him in? Why weren't they able to surround him and keep him safe? Why was their support so fickle? As usual, why questions just aren't helpful, are they? They keep us talking when we need, instead, to be acting! The Grace Church choir, under the direction of Neil Harmon, presented the contrast to the joyous Hosannas as they sang the Rutter Requiem. Deeply moving and thought-provoking, the Requiem led us into the tensions we discover in ourselves each Holy Week.

The tensions continued on Thursday as we delved into the sacred stories and discovered our place at the feetwashing, the table, Gethsemane, and headed toward the cross. Would I have been the one who was horrified that Jesus wanted to wash my feet, would I have rejected his humility? Would I have been the one who would betray him? Or fall asleep, instead of keeping watch in order to protect him, as he prayed in the garden? Would I have deserted him? Do I do all these in my daily life even as he offers me experience of grace after experience of grace? Even as he showers his love on me continuously?

Every year I look forward to this journey. It's stories raise so many emotions in me; and call me to a commitment and experience that otherwise I might neglect. If I arrived at Easter, without making this journey, it seems to me that Easter would stay with me only a day or two; or perhaps only until something ugly reared its head in my life! Then, I suspect, that which had been built would topple for lack of a poorly constructed foundation. I love the preparations for the journey. They are such a vital part for me. I love figuring out, with others who enjoy it as well, how to present and tell the stories. I take great pleasure from setting them up visually. Tapping all our senses in worship is the ultimate goal so we can take in the stories in a way that fits our particular skin.

Yesterday, on Easter, as I stood at the Riverfront, at what might seem to some to be an ungodly hour but for me proved to be a Godly moment, I experienced grace and saw God build an altar in the world as the sun rose over the water as we proclaimed our Easter faith: "Christ is risen, Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia!" It was an incredible moment in which I felt at one with God, totally content, at peace.

At our Easter celebration at Grace Church, the joy was palpable. Surprise was everywhere, from unexpected guests to revelations expressed in Word and music; signs of the risen Christ's presence among us!

At the end of this Holy Week to Easter journey, I am reminded that Easter signals a beginning on God's part. The "It is finished" of the cross becomes "Now it begins" on Easter. [Len Sweet and others] It's time to ask ourselves exactly what "it" is. If we don't ever consider this, then Easter will be simply a Sunday that makes us feel good; a Sunday when we experience grace without responding to the gift.

Now it begins. What is the "it" to which God invites us to give ourselves and our talents?