The other day my grandson asked me if Easter is going to be cancelled this year. Reacting out of all the things that have been lost in his young life over the last few weeks, it made sense that he was wondering what was going to disappear next. 鈥淣o鈥� I replied, 鈥淵ou can be sure that Easter won鈥檛 be cancelled. Easter isn鈥檛 actually about chicks and bunnies and chocolate eggs. Easter is about God and God is much bigger and more powerful than the pandemic. It鈥檚 going to be different this year and how we celebrate it will be different, but it will never be cancelled鈥�.
Without the usual warm bodies and smiling faces around us to greet the sunrise, light the Paschal Candle and sing together in one voice, our traditions around Easter will be different this year. But dealing with the very real life and death matters that are on our doorsteps right now may give us even more reason to lean into our resurrection faith. Because when the women arrived at the tomb that first Easter morning to find it empty, the world changed. And as COVID 19 wreaks havoc in our lives and our world, in our communities and our families, that is good news for us today. So let us be assured that even in our darkest times, when all seems lost, God鈥檚 love IS far more powerful than suffering and death. Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed! Thanks be to God!
