As Christmas has Boxing Day (Canada), Easter has back to school Monday (at least in my district). Spring break was last week here at DavidsonHaus, our unhurried mornings fueled by Fruit Loops (not actual fruit) and YouTube. Now the kids are all back in school. “Back” meaning that some are socially distance in a public school and some are in the basement peering through ChromeBooks. The morning has gone well so far and everyone is in the right place.
Please note that I was not on spring break last week, as it was high time to prepare for the biggest Sunday of the year — Easter. After a meaningful Holy Week, with its twists and turns through Hosannas and Terror that culminates with an empty tomb (Indeed!), we are now “done” with Easter.
No, we’re not!
Robert Webber says it best in his book Ancient-Future Time:
| “The primary metaphor for the Easter season is the church as the resurrected people living a resurrected spirituality. Because of Easter we are in union with Christ and are called to live in our baptismal identity in his resurrection. This essential theme of Easter cannot be communicated in a day. It takes a season.” |
As I said at Renovation yesterday, you can’t possibly pack a Resurrection Party into one worship service. Not after all that has happened, all that buildup, and all that celebration. Nah. We can’t be done. There is more to explore, more to be reminded of, more life to live.
When a student graduates from High School, we spend an afternoon at a ceremony, go out to eat, maybe have an open house. After that, it’s right to whatever is next — career, college, trades, etc. But rarely does a fresh grad have a cap ‘n’ gown on Saturday and a new job in Tulsa on Monday. Rarely. Why? They need time to get established. To reorient. To repack. Sure, they might work a job or pick up a class. But there’s time to come to terms with it. In fact, the entire Senior Year of High School is our coming to terms with whatever is next.
Incidentally, for my senior year, it was a weekly donut delivery to the Band Director in exchange for showing up to first hour 45 minutes late every day. It was win-win. No academic awards, but I sure did get… more sleep… ugh. Probably should’ve tried harder.
But don’t let that confuse what we’re trying to say here. Easter is a season. As we eat candy scored at 50%, let’s remember that much has changed because Christ is Risen. We are risen with him — made like Him, like Him we rise. What does that actually mean? It takes a season. We are united with Christ and believers all over the world. How can that be? We don’t even speak the same language, and some of us go to the traditional service! We are united beyond all other denotation. It takes a season. Jesus is victorious over sin, death, and satan. How does that play out when I’m tempted? If I’m stuck? If I’m wrecked by the world? It takes a season.
Welcome, dear friends, to the Easter Season.
(R) Adam Davidson 