It is a few days after Easter; the last of the hard-boileds were chopped into an egg salad, the pile of chocolate treats is dwindling, and the good dishes have been stored until the next holiday.
I do hope that your Easter celebration was joy-filled – and that you enjoyed your special traditions in the company of loved ones.
We seem to mark time with the preparation and passing of holidays (which come along more quickly as we get older!) Our Easter was wonderful…and on the Monday following, we busied ourselves with the next tasks at hand.
I found myself thinking that what Easter represents is deserving of a bit more contemplation…and reverence.
A dear friend who is now with the Lord used to describe something really important as “Huger Than Large”. And Jesus’ crucifixion, death, and return to life is just that.
As I finished up my Lenten Devotional, I thought long and hard about God’s sacrifice for us, and the absolute surrender of Jesus to His Father’s will. How humiliating…how excruciating…how incomprehensible…and how true.
The magnitude of such an event and the resulting effects on all of mankind merit more than just a festive church service and a special dinner. (Even a visit from the Easter Bunny can’t compare!)
We should commemorate the Resurrection every day, living with grateful hearts, sharing God’s joy with those around us. Perhaps, after prayerful consideration, we could exhume some of the jubilance that we long for, heavily buried underneath the stress and strains of life.
Is it possible that we, too can rise to a new – and better – life?
With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God. ~Mark 10:27
Jesus’ resurrection has gifted us with the promise of new life here on earth, and of eternal life in heaven. How can we ever stop recalling this miracle, and its implications?
Let’s all try to be mindful about what God has done for us – and thank Him for giving us His Son – our Savior, our Friend.
Through Him is our way to newness.
Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life.
~1 Corinthians 15:22 New Living Translation
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To hear Rev.Martin Ban’s inspiring Easter message from Christ Church Santa Fe, click here.
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beWARM 
Thank you Toni for the reminder that “with God, all things are possible.” I get so caught up in our man-made world and lose sight of where truth really lies. Great to catch up, talk, laugh, process in the mountains last week right before Easter. Next?! Love, Susan
Yes, it is always edifying to spend time together, sharing our hearts and our faith in the beauty of nature!
One of the things for which I’m grateful in my faith tradition is that we look at Easter as a “season” rather than just one day. And so we celebrate in our Sunday services from Easter Sunday through Pentecost … gives us seven good weeks of celebration! The Sunday services each week feature the Easter stories and other beloveds, like the Good Shepherd. Keeps those “alleluias” before us for awhile longer. I think a challenge for all of us Christians is to keep Resurrection alive, as Toni says, EVERY DAY. We are Jesus’ hands and feet today … we take that message with us … Jesus has risen in US … It is the very meaning of “Christian” … let’s take it to the world and live it!
You are so right…making every day an Alleluia!!!