I have been thinking about Easter a lot lately. Not just because we should as Christians but because of its weighty significance it should hold in the lives of Christians. The events of Resurrection Day are what our faith hinges on, what makes it so very different than any other religion in the world.
Why is it that we spend almost a month (or for some more) planning, anticipating, and celebrating Christmas? I thought about this awhile and talked with Husband about it. I realize that preparing for a birth is quite celebratory and exciting. However, do we celebrate someones impending death and funeral the same? No, I would say not. So, how do we celebrate (or festivate as many here like to say) Easter in such a way that our children see a striking difference in between it and Christmas? How do we make it always a point in the year that they, and we, look to in great hope and excitement?
I read on a website that they celebrate all week long with a variety of fun things especially at meal time. They toast in grand celebration at each dinner meal. I need to think on things that they do during the week to celebrate new life that extends from that empty tomb.
I want to strive for this kind of celebration... not only for me, but for Little Flower and her siblings to come.
Do you out there in blog land have thoughts or ideas?
Jess, I've been wondering the same thing myself. Not only in the celebration and anticipation of Christmas vs. Easter as a whole, but looking at the music--there are "Christmas carols," why aren't there "Easter carols?"
ReplyDeleteThen my pastor said something very important yesterday that put it all into perspective for me. We should be constantly reminded and thoughtful about the significance of Easter--in reality, the gospel--throughout the entire year, not just on one weekend of it. Too many churches (and with that, believers!) today bypass the importance of the sacrifice that Jesus made for everyone on this earth when He said "not My will, but Yours be done," and "became obedient to death, even death on a cross!"
In addition to this, I realized many of our Christian songs relate to Easter and the sacrifice Christ made for us. Anyway, that all kind of made me feel a little better,and yet, more ashamed at my lack of remembrance throughout the year, but I'm glad to hear you were thinking about this, too!
I was looking through our hymanl and there are songs with great theological depth on the Passion of Christ (Good Friday) and then I think there were a handful... maybe four... that were specifically marked for the Resurrection. It was an odd thing for me to discover. Although, there are a few more than that labled for Pentecost.
ReplyDeleteI read this on Nancy Wilson's blog (a pastor's wife in our denomination) and I found it to be quite appropriate,
"...when the disciples heard and really believed that Christ was risen, the celebration didn’t end the next morning. We live in the light of the risen Christ. The good news continues to be good news from one morning to the next. So, even though I’m mopping up from the feasting, the rejoicing extends from one Sunday to the next, all year long."
But like you mentioned, Steph, most of the things we do sing harken back to the sacrifice and we meed to be mindful of that in all things that we do... the rejoicing does indeed extend from one Lord's Day to the next. Just as it did from the first Easter to the next... and from one Advent to the next.
We don’t celebrate Easter, but we do celebrate Resurrection Sunday. They’re two different things in my book of definitions. (Another home school/home education, teenager/young adult thing.) We are aiming for a similar idea - how to celebrate godly events in biblical ways rather than focusing on the worldly Easter and Christmas.
ReplyDeleteWe’ve started bringing celebration of biblical holidays into our lives, preferring Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Good Friday, and the Resurrection over coloring eggs (ew) and worshiping spring rather than it’s creator (double ew). It’s hard, we don’t get everything right, and it’s always awkward to spit out a lengthier “Blessed Resurrection Sunday” rather than “Happy Easter”.
It’s the same deal with Christmas. We open stockings on Christmas morning, and gifts from those outside our immediate family, and that’s all the recognition that it gets. However, we have a special breakfast each Sunday of Advent, acknowledge His birth on Dec 25 (‘cause that’s as close as we can get) but wait for Epiphany to exchange gifts in and amongst our household, focusing on what that would have been like for the Wise Men to arrive and behold.
Welcome to parenthood, seriously analyzing everything you do, why, and influenced by whom/what. It’s quite a ride, but so very worth it . . .