He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!
Easter is upon us with its 50 days of celebration and rejoicing.
That's right.
Fifty days!
Not one.
Not just this single day.
But an entire season to focus ourselves on rejoicing and celebrating... on remembering that we are an Easter people.
We now the end of the story.
Jesus may have died on the cross and his body may have been put in a tomb, but He is risen!
He is risen, indeed!
And no matter how imperfect... how not-quite-understanding-everything... how all-too-human in faith and action that we as the followers of Christ may be, the Resurrection has changed our lives.
Like Christ's original followers, we, too, may experience the amazing magnitude and mission of the Resurrection - to let it inflame our hearts and to live Christ.
Yes, to live Christ!
To be ignited in faith, hope, and love and to carry Christ's light into any dark place that we may encounter.
Whether the darkness be in our own minds and hearts or in the experience of those around us, Christ is with us and can help us banish the darkness.
For Christ died for us and He rose for us. He has invited us to experience a share in His love.
His love which conquered death.
His love, which - in us and through us - can certainly illuminate any dark places in our lives and set the world aflame with love, with joy, and with zeal.
So, no matter how you are feeling as you end this Easter Sunday, even if you are feeling wholly tired as I am, I pray that, like me, you are also feeling wholly charged to seek and spread Christ's love.
With gratitude, amazement, rejoicing, celebration... may you have blessed and beautiful Eastertide, journeying with joy.
He is alive!