Celebrate Easter every day of year
JOE MILLER JR.

Luke 24:1-12

Christians around the world celebrated Easter this past Sunday! Easter is a high holy day much like Christmas. At Christmas time we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, and at Easter we celebrate his resurrection. Right? Wrong!

There are distinct differences between the two holy days other than the obvious historical events they signify. The birth of Jesus was a one time, historical event. Although we have some beautiful reenactments of nativity scene in Bethlehem, it is over and finished. It can only be referred to in the past tense.

Easter is very different from that. The scriptures all refer to a woman or some women who go to the tomb early Sunday morning. Although Jesus was buried on Friday afternoon, the Sabbath starts at sundown on Friday and lasts until Sundown on Saturday, and these good Jewish women have to wait until Sunday morning to go and dress the body with the requisite spices.

The gospel accounts vary, but in all versions they find an empty tomb. In the Lukan account two angels gently chastise them for looking for the "living among the dead." The angels remind the women of what Jesus had taught them, they remember his words and immediately go and proclaim the resurrection to the male apostles.

Thus the story ends pending the post-Easter Jesus appearances from Matthew, Luke, and John. But, the story does not really end; the telling of the story ends, but the story continues… forever. Huh? The tomb is still empty! Although it might be interesting to visit the tomb where Jesus was buried, it really does not matter. It is empty, has no lasting value, and serves only to remind us that Jesus is still alive.

Jesus did not live another 30 or so years and then die again; he is alive (present tense) and will live (future tense) forever.

Death is defeated for all time, and Jesus is with us through the Holy Spirit. If we are ill, even unto the point of death, Jesus' healing touch is with us. If we have lost a loved one, and we grieve, Jesus weeps with us. If we face depression and loneliness, and life seems to have lost its meaning, Jesus is with us to open our hearts to the Holy Spirit.

In a sense, Easter is 365 days per year. We are God's Easter people every day, 24/7. Happy Easter… today, tomorrow, and forever.

If you attended church on this Easter Sunday, consider attending church every "Easter Sunday;" that is, every Sunday because every Sunday is Easter Sunday. If you have a church, worship passionately. If you do not have a church, find one. East Texas is full of good churches. Email me at newtonumc@valornet. com with your thoughts.

Joe Miller Jr. is pastor of First United Methodist Church in Newton.