Hi everyone,
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!
What a great day today is, we witnessed a baptism, we welcomed new members, we celebrated together over food, and we were reminded of resurrection. The resurrection of Christ, of course, but also our resurrection out of burdens that we may carry from the brokenness of the world. But while today is a great day, I want to remind everyone that the Easter season isn’t just about one day, but it is 7 weeks thinking about and reflecting on who we are as resurrected Easter people.
As Jesus is the firstborn from the dead, so we follow suit as reborn, renewed, and reformed as children of God. And as was said in today’s sermon, that is just the beginning!
Let’s look at the readings for next week:
Acts 4:32-35
Psalm 133
1 John 1:1–2:2
John 20:19-31
Here we have a glimpse of what it means to live as Easter people. People who are generous and share what they have. People who live in community. People who walk righteously with intention and purpose. People who are with peace.
I know, this isn’t an easy list to live up to, but as Easter people, as people resurrected into new life, as people dearly loved by a gracious God, this isn’t a goal of life that we strive to attain, but this is the kind of life that is given to us because of God’s love for us.
Jesus is risen through God’s love for all people, so I can be more generous with others. Jesus is risen to reveal just how valued we are, so I can live with others in community. Jesus is risen because love is stronger than hate, so I can walk in that light of Christ. Jesus is risen because God is bigger, stronger, and more loving than anyone or anything we could imagine, so peace will not be hard to come by.
We have been given a wonder gift, dear friends. And this gift isn’t something that we must learn to earn, but it is something that continues to give as we grow and are shaped by it.
Thanks be to God! Have a great week, everyone!