Trying to Make Sense of Easter This Year

Today was the fifth Sunday since our church canceled in-person services. In place of re-creating the Sunday experience via live-stream services, we structured the entire church into small groups where congregants receive personal care along with a sense of interactive community in which to worship, be formed by the Word, and reach out to others in love.

But, today—for the first time since we canceled our regular services—the entire church gathered for an online Zoom experience led by a few of the church’s leaders. The emotion of it for many was clearly evident.

Many were deeply grateful to see one another’s faces, to share an experience together, and to hear a handful of folks extend personal Easter greetings to the congregation. Some were grieving what we were missing today: the opportunity to be face-to-face with one another in person, to shake some hands and exchange some hugs.

As someone who dedicates the lion-share of my working hours each week to nurturing this group of people, I am still trying to make sense of how these days of crisis can change us, making us better suited to be a people of love and hope…for all peoples. I can’t help but feel that most churches are just biding their time with temporary measures until they can just get back to normal and host services the way they’ve always liked it. That is evident to me by the number of churches who have responded to this crisis by simply trying to re-create what they do on Sunday morning in an online environment.

I see this moment in time as an inflection point. As it is Easter weekend, I can’t help but see it in terms of death and resurrection. We are being given an opportunity to practice letting go of the old life and rising again to embody a new way of being.

But resurrection is predicated on crucifixion. Are we willing to let go? Are we willing to give up everything we cherish…for the sake of love?

All day today on Facebook I have seen countless Easter exclamations, but I must confess: I wonder if we have really died to our own selfish desires to warrant such an exclamation.

Throughout history, Christians have taught that the greatest evidence of a risen Savior lies not in a mere intellectual apologetic but in a life where the self-giving love of Jesus shines clearly. Others can only know Jesus has risen if they can see him alive in our hearts. But Jesus cannot truly live in our hearts unless we identify with him in his death. So, as long as we remain consumers, we cannot authentically bear witness to his life.

A moment of honesty: this Easter, I’m troubled. I know that people like me (that is, people who have been labeled as “pastors”) are not supposed to say things like that on Easter Sunday—but it is the truth.

I’m haunted by the thought that we have become so accustomed to consuming our religion as a feel-good product…that we have become addicted to our programs. And today was another fix (as it always has been) for many. We’ll feel good for a while, enjoying our nice religious “high”—but within a matter of weeks we’ll just keep craving our experiences where we can meet with God for our own personal needs but miss one another in the process and, worst of all, miss out on being part of all that God is already doing in the world all around us.

It is ironic that in this time of isolation, we yearn for connection—but when we have the opportunity to really connect, we are content to just live in isolation. I can’t help but feel this is what Christ experienced. As he reached out to us in love, we pushed him away—preferring him dead. Then, in the grave, he faced the most extreme isolation of all…still for love. But he rose again to enfold all in love. By his death, he sought to put an end to our isolation. And by his life he invites us to move out of isolation with him, to move in love towards others.

The offer is still there for us today, the offer of love. So, what will we do? Will we die with him, letting go of our own life for the sake of love? I pray it will be so. For only as we die with him, will we live with him.

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Trying to Make Sense of Easter This Year

reflections by Troy Cady.

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