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On April 1st we will celebrate Easter, the Resurrection of our Lord. It is also April Fool’s day. In some ways I find that it’s somewhat ironic and think maybe it’s God’s joke on us. I say this because for a number of years I have been distressed at how, we as followers of Christ, treat our two major festivals-Christmas and Easter, and the liturgical seasons that follow them with little importance. For instance, take Easter, the season is fifty days until Pentecost. Yet, it seems that for most of us, a newspaper article that said, though not intentional, best describes the celebration: Easter Dawn Service began at 5:30 and was over just after dawn. Oh, there might be a ham dinner and Easter egg hunt sometime that day, but does anyone think about the Resurrection the day after Easter?
I think about that because we tend to think of ourselves as the faithful, disciples of Christ in our present age. Given that, I am reminded of a passage in Acts [1:22] that tells us that when the early disciples had to replace Judas, the main criteria was that person had to be a witness to the resurrection. Now that is a very alluring description of the Christian vocation but how can we be that? The role of a disciple, which we are called to be in the world of our time, is to be a witness for Christ; to share with others the love, mercy, and grace of God, through Christ.
I would suggest, using the newspaper model of HOLD THE PRESSES! God kept on talking even when His book should have gone to press. Talking through the faithful, through every generation including ours, we are the faithful, we are His disciples, we are writing the latest chapter in God’s book.
How will we write that chapter? What will we say and do in the name of the risen Christ that we might continue God’s concern for peace, the hungry, the homeless, the down trodden, all the marginal in our society?
I think about that because we tend to think of ourselves as the faithful, disciples of Christ in our present age. Given that, I am reminded of a passage in Acts [1:22] that tells us that when the early disciples had to replace Judas, the main criteria was that person had to be a witness to the resurrection. Now that is a very alluring description of the Christian vocation but how can we be that? The role of a disciple, which we are called to be in the world of our time, is to be a witness for Christ; to share with others the love, mercy, and grace of God, through Christ.
I would suggest, using the newspaper model of HOLD THE PRESSES! God kept on talking even when His book should have gone to press. Talking through the faithful, through every generation including ours, we are the faithful, we are His disciples, we are writing the latest chapter in God’s book.
How will we write that chapter? What will we say and do in the name of the risen Christ that we might continue God’s concern for peace, the hungry, the homeless, the down trodden, all the marginal in our society?
Blessings,
Pastor Kurt +
Pastor Kurt +
