Easter Sunday, April 4, 2021

“Walk Out!”

Finally, Easter has arrived.  The tomb has opened.  A global pandemic, record-freezing temperatures, raging wildfires, forty-six Lenten Challenges, and all kinds of social, economic, and personal distress could not stop the tomb from opening.  It’s been a long and difficult road, but finally, we’ve arrived to discover that God still loves us, Always and Forever.

When the women and the disciples arrived at the tomb, they didn’t know what to think.  Then, Jesus appeared to them, but they still weren’t sure what it all meant.  Even with the appearance of God before them, they still scratched their heads in wonder and concern.  What now?

To some extent, our arrival at the Easter tomb isn’t too much unlike Jesus’ closest followers.  We are here, yet we are still scratching our heads and wondering what all this means.  What are we supposed to accomplish?  How should we prepare and how do we proceed into an unknown world?  Past performance won’t help us too much in a post-pandemic life.  Everything has changed.  Everything is new.

Easter 2021 has given us a new opportunity to venture into the world’s questions and bring a message of Hope to the uncertainty, just like that first Easter many years ago.  We don’t have to know exactly where we are going.  We don’t even need to know how to do it.  Just as the Lord promised those closest followers, Jesus also promises us that the Holy Spirit will provide everything we need, including the answers to our many questions.

This is a new beginning for all of us.  We can choose to go back to our same old selves, but it’s going to be lonely back there.  This is the Easter of change.  This is the Easter that we’ve been praying for.  The tomb is open.  Jesus walked out and so can we!  

“Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.”  (John 20:18, NRSV)

 Lent Day 46, Saturday, Apr 3, 2021

“Silence”

Along with Fasting, another prominent discipline in Faith is the vow of Silence, often practiced by those who are seeking a more personal connection with God.  Most of the time, we associate the practice of Silence with Christian monks, living in monastic communities that are dedicated to serving God.  However, the discipline has been recorded as a primary means of Christian devotion since the early 4th Century AD, but even at that time, vows of Silence were already common among the Church. 

Silence is difficult to practice in our modern culture.  We are surrounded by means to communicate.  Voice communication is a basic and primary need of humankind, which is the reason that taking some time to be quiet is so difficult.  But just as we need to make the effort to speak, it’s also important that we learn how to listen.

Today is about listening.  This is Easter weekend, and before the tomb is opened tomorrow, consider taking some time to be Silent.  Listen for God’s voice and listen to others, but when possible, refrain from speaking.  This is a difficult one to explain to others, but it’s an excellent discipline to learn.

The rules?  As much as possible, be Silent today.  When our voice needs to be heard, speak and respond!  However, refrain from the casual talk, needless babble, and the initiation of conversation.  This also includes refraining from initiating texts and emails.  Don’t be rude today, but don’t start it if we don’t need it.  (If you're at work today, you're obviously exempt!  But try!)

Can we achieve Silence today?  Begin the Challenge now and continue until midnight, Saturday.  A few hours after that, the tomb will open and we will rejoice at the top of our lungs!

“Be still before the LORD, and wait patiently for him” (Psalm 37:7a, NRSV).

 Lent Day 45, Friday, Apr 2, 2021

“24-hour Fast, Again!”

It’s Good Friday!  Once again, we are Challenged to join many other Christians in Fasting from food for 24-hours.  If you tried last Friday and were able to accomplish this Challenge, great job!  You have already done it once and you can do it again!  If you were unable to accomplish the 24-hour Fast last week, no worries!  You’re getting another shot at it.  WOOHOO!  (If you’re new to these Lenten Challenges, consider tackling this one!)

In honor of Good Friday, the day that the Christian Church remembers the suffering and death of Jesus Christ, lots of Christians will practice the ancient discipline of Fasting.  Aww, no worries!  Sometimes, people hear the word “discipline” and begin to involuntarily twitch as they remember their nightmare experiences from elementary school.  But, in this instance, “discipline” simply refers to training the mind and body to wait just a little longer.  That’s all it is:  demonstrating some patience as we wait a little longer to satisfy those urges.

Now for the rules: All drinks are okay today (liquid diet for 24 hours).  If you haven’t eaten today, good for you!  Count backward to your last food consumption, and begin counting from that point.  You’re ahead!  If you have already eaten today, add 24 hours to your last meal and don’t eat again until that time tomorrow.  (Folks with medical conditions that require food consumption are exempt from this Challenge.  Consider reading the Bible for one hour as your replacement.  Quit crying.  The ones who are participating in this Fasting Challenge would gladly read the Bible for an hour today if they could munch on some pizza while doing it.)

It’s Good Friday!  The 24-hour Fast begins now!

“Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”  (Esther 4:16, NIV)

 Lent Day 44, Thursday, Apr 1, 2021

“Pray for Church and Church Staff”

Today’s Challenge is specifically and selfishly selected to draw attention to your local Church and the Church Staff.  Whether the Church you attend is big or small, all Churches are wondering about Easter this year.  The COVID pandemic wrecked our Easter services last year.  This year, most of us are open, but we still don't know what to expect for Easter and we are praying that we have planned (guessed) appropriately.

This time of year, Church Staff are usually stretched to their breaking point.  If something can break, (ie plumbing, HVAC units, microphones, computers, printers, power supplies, etc), this would be the weekend it would happen.  Somewhere, the preaching pastor would go to the worship center on Saturday morning for last-minute preparations, only to discover a leaking toilet or a faint smell of natural gas.  Within a few minutes of their discovery, the pastor would have already broken all of their Lenten commitments and contacted their entire staff for emergency help.  Such it is for the Church and Church Staff on a normal Easter.  But, as we all know, this ain’t a normal Easter. 

Easter is the biggest day of the year as we recall the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the foundation upon which the entire Christian Church was built.  That kind of pressure is not easy to overcome for Church Staff, especially under pandemic protocols.  The Pastor is already stressed, but when we also add the production of multiple worship services, handouts, newsletters, video graphics, and the unexpected needs of those in crisis, strife, or grief, it can get difficult.  And, of course, stress on the pastor yields pressure on the rest of the staff (and even key volunteers), not to mention their families at home that are waiting to dye Easter Eggs.  Staff usually arrive at Easter needing the grace that only Christ can provide, before waking on the following Monday with the physical and emotional fatigue that has little comparison.

Pray today, then, for Church Staff: your own, and also those you encounter.  Driving past a neighborhood church on the way to the grocery store?  Say a prayer for that Pastor and Staff.  Attending another Church over the weekend?  Pray for that Church their Staff.  Do you regularly pray in the morning or evening?  Pray today for those that lead your church.  Pray that your Pastor and Staff are strengthened, sustained, inspired, and blessed this weekend!  

Oh, yeah, and don’t forget to listen to God in your prayers!  God may reveal ways that you might lighten their load or bless them on Easter!

“Remember your leaders, those who have spoken God's word to you. Think about the impact of their lives, and imitate their faith.” - Hebrews 13:7 (ISV).