Easter Sunday: The Feast of the Resurrection
“On this day the Lord has acted; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
PS 118:24, BCP
Dear Friends,
Alleluia! Christ is risen! As we celebrate the resurrection, we join with countless Christians around the world and throughout the centuries in proclaiming the good news that in Christ, death is overcome and new life is ours. It is a joyful season and the weeks of Easter last until the Day of Pentecost. Throughout the fifty days of Easter, we will hear the Gospel stories of the risen Christ and learn from the Acts of the Apostles about the earliest disciples and their responses to the Good News of the resurrection.
We carry that Good News, the promise and hope of God’s own life, wherever we go, in all times and circumstances of our lives. We carry the Good News today, throughout the Easter season, and always. In the words of today’s psalm, “on this day, the Lord has acted; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Many of us celebrate Easter with happy traditions – baskets for children, new clothes, special meals, joyful music and worship – all the energy and excitement that comes with the hope and promise of new life. And yet, even on our most difficult days, the Lord still acts, Jesus Christ has been raised from the dead, and our fragile humanity is redeemed through his saving work. Even when we are not quite up for rejoicing and gladness, we can still acknowledge the saving power of the resurrection and give thanks. This is this gospel, and it is Good News for us today in a world that seems determined to divide us, where so many are vulnerable, struggling, and afraid. In the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we can trust that God is with us, new life is possible, and there is hope.
Our Easter Gospel this year is from St. Luke (24:1-12). There, we hear how the disciples received the news of the resurrection from Mary Magdalene and the other women who visited the tomb early in the morning, only to find that the tomb was empty. They returned to the disciples to share what they had seen and heard, to be met with disbelief. Peter alone rushed to the tomb to see for himself the signs of new life. On reaching the empty tomb, Peter saw for himself the signs of resurrection. Our bibles translate his response as amazement, but the original Greek says more than that – Peter marveled, he struck by awe and wonder at God’s mighty work.
It is not always easy to see the signs of what God is doing in our world. It wasn’t easy for the disciples 2000 years ago, which is perhaps why Peter was the only disciple to run to see the empty tomb. Likewise, it isn’t easy for us today. And yet, we hope. We trust that, by the grace of God, death has been conquered and new and risen life is ours.
Wherever you find yourself today, my hope and prayer for you is that this Easter Season brings hope and joy. May Christ who has been raised for us bring you new life, and may you rejoice and be glad in all that God has done for us and for the whole world.
Clarke, Jack, Libby and I wish you and yours a very happy and blessed Easter season.
Faithfully,
The Rt. Rev. Sally French
Bishop of New Jersey