Word for Word 4/3/24

EASTER PEOPLE

Easter arrives at a wonderful time of year. The earth is coming back to life after winter, crocuses are popping up from the thawing ground and we get a sense of new life abounding. Delight and awe are in the air.

In the church Easter season, we celebrate that new life is also coming to us! Christ is risen and he promises to raise us up as well.

Pope John Paul II once wrote: “We do not pretend that life is all beauty. We are aware of darkness and sin, of poverty and pain. But we know Jesus has conquered sin and passed through his own pain to the glory of the Resurrection. And we live in the light of his Paschal Mystery - the mystery of his Death and Resurrection. ‘We are an Easter People and Alleluia is our song!’”

Indeed, we are Easter People. Even in the midst of our struggles, we hold fast to our hope in the resurrection. We can experience joy today in changing times because our joy is rooted in God’s unchanging love.

Though the Easter candies have already been marked down, this season continues for the next 50 days. I encourage you to take time to contemplate what it means to be an Easter Person. Your new life has already begun because of Christ’s resurrection. May you experience joy today as the earth springs back to life and let “Alleluia” be your song!

Pastor Laura Gentry
Our Savior’s Lutheran Church
Lansing