The Gospel of Luke offers this description of the first Easter morning:
On the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices which they had prepared.
And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body.
While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel; and as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them:
“Why do you seek the living among the dead?”
What a great question to ponder on Easter Sunday.
The fundamental spiritual meaning of the story is clear.
For Christians, this holiest of days embodies the promise of salvation and eternal life through Jesus’ resurrection from the death.
For those of the Christian faith, Jesus’ triumph over death, hell, and the grave is a powerful affirmation that God’s love will always prevail, and there is hope for all.
Today is Easter Sunday — the first Sunday following the first full moon after the Spring equinox — for that is how, in simple terms, the church calculates Easter. But it is much more than a holiday or a red-letter day on the calendar.
Today, all across this country and the world, the Gospel will be proclaimed, sunrise services will be held, and special music will share the story of that first Easter morning.
For some, Easter is about new clothes, colored eggs, and chocolate bunnies.
Easter reminds us that life is renewed each spring, even following the harshest of winters.
The promise of spring, so distant even six weeks ago, has been fulfilled. New life is in evidence all around us, with trees bursting into leaf, spring flowers in bloom, and birds nesting and singing.
The miraculous renewal of life is heartening and humbling.
And for Christians, the hope of spiritual renewal and rebirth — no matter what we are facing — is at the very center of the Christian faith. It’s a promise that was first fulfilled almost 2,000 years ago, and one we can still count on today.
We hope our readers take time today to focus on the true meaning of Easter.
To attend worship services and open their hearts and minds to the message of Easter.
To allow themselves to look around them and see the miracle of spring.
We urge our readers to seek the living — among the living.
Happy Easter!