A reflection by Christina Brennan Lee for April 7, 2024.
How often have we simply walked through the idea of the penitence of Lent, the excitement of Palm Sunday, the passion of Holy Week, and the joyful celebration of Your miraculous Resurrection, taking it all for granted because it happens for us every year? And now, all our work of Lent and Easter is over and we can get back to normal while we finish up the peeps, jelly beans, and what’s left of the chocolate bunnies, right? Yet, a question remains ~ what are we to do with all the leftover faith eggs from our baskets?
O Christ Risen!
Where do we go from here? Of course life was so much simpler when I was a kid (in age, body, and mind!). Easter was, for me, just a day for a basket of green plastic grass with dyed eggs and chocolate bunnies, new clothes, and a big family dinner like at Thanksgiving and Christmas. And now, as an alleged grown-up [when exactly does that happen?], I’m supposed to actually stop to think about and reflect that You suffered, You died real actual death, and that You Resurrected from that real actual death for each of us. Of course I have done that in some moments during Church services that were inspiring and then I’d go home and maybe order pizza, flip through Facebook, watch tv, and make a grocery list.
Yet, despite the earthly indulgences and distractions, I’ve often been reminded in those very services and sermons, especially this year, with that niggling in my head and heart, that I have more to do, more to be in terms of putting my faith into action ~ but ~ I am well aware of and maybe a bit intimidated by the thought that openly and intentionally following You carries some serious responsibilities. Honestly, I’m really not sure I’m completely up to the task. I mean, I fall off that wagon of attempting perfection quite regularly and then those moments of doubting my faith and my commitment creep in.
BUT ~ well, okay, insert taking a long deep breath here ~ it’s a new season of Eastertide, maybe even a new me as in a new creation [1 Corinthians 5:17]. I’ve listened and even heard Your messages so I’ll keep working on this. I’m putting all of my Faith eggs in one basket, Yours. I do believe that You are all I need but I could use some serious help here, please.
In this and all times of trial and triumph, in days of the trivial and the tolerable, open our hearts to truly REJOICE in Eastertide this year as if for the very first time and for all the best reasons, and to take it with us each and every day of this life we have been given to live. Amen.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Every week, Christina Brennan Lee writes the Prayers of the People we use in our worship services on Sundays. She also leads weekday prayer services and serves on the SsAM Vestry. Click here to see her People’s Prayers website.
