Easter Ponderings

There is a tale going the rounds about a little boy in church on Easter Sunday who comes to the front during Children's time. 'What day is it today children?' asked the Rev. One bright young lad pipes up; "Easter!" 'What is Easter?' asked the pastor. "It's the day Jesus came out of his tomb!" 'Very good' commented the pastor. But the boy continued... "Then he saw his shadow and went back in again!"

Yep, it's Easter.  And for people of faith, trying to steer a way though Easter Bunnies, Egg hunts and all the other trappings marking the advent of Spring, to discover the deeper meaning of the season can be quite a quest. Our cultural traditions tend to cast a shadow over the biblical message that forms the essential core of Christianity.

Taking another look at the scriptural accounts is highly recommended. The account of Jesus entry into Jerusalem, His confrontations with both religious and political authority, His betrayal both by those closest to Him and by people in high and low places, His desperate prayers in the Garden, His abuse by law enforcement, the account of His death and events that surround  it..... this is not easy reading.

Steve Turner in his poem "* Christmas is really for Children"...

"Easter is not really
for the children
unless accompanied by a
cream filled egg.
It has whips, blood, nails,
a spear and allegations
of body snatching.
It involves politics, God
and the sins of the world.
It is not good for people
of a nervous disposition.
They would do better to 
think on rabbits, chickens
and the first snowdrop of spring.
Or they'd do better to
wait for a re-run of
Christmas without asking
too many questions about
what Jesus did when He grew up
or whether there's any connection."

On Easter Day the church makes an an astounding claim. That God raised Christ from death. We proclaim that this makes a HUGE difference. That light can beat darkness and death is not game over.  We realize that resurrection is interpreted in many different ways.

How such a notion rocks your world is something we cannot predict! However we will continue to gather for worship each year and declare "Christ is Risen". And whilst this cry may be misunderstood and misinterpreted, we also know there will be those, who from personal experience, respond "He is risen, indeed!"

However you view Easter, our prayer is that something of an 'Hallelujah' might infest your personal experience of the holiday. And if you are in the area of First Presbyterian Church, Baldwin,  feel free to join us. We'll even invite you to join in a communal singing of the Hallelujah Chorus. Because we can!

(* From 'Nice and Nasty' by Steve Turner. Copyright Marshall, Morgan and Scott Ltd. 1980. ISBN 0 551 00865 2)