What is your favorite thing about Easter? I’ve shared in the past that when I was a child (the middle of three sisters), my mother always made us new dresses to wear on Easter Sunday. We would go to church all decked out in new dresses, hats, purses, and even gloves! It all felt so special. The church was decorated with flowers, and the pews were full. We got all dressed up and took pictures. After church, we got to hunt for Easter eggs and our Easter baskets were full of wonderful surprises. I still remember the year I got an album with songs from the Monkeys. (If you are old enough, you will understand the references!) I loved Easter!
I still love Easter even though I no longer get a new dress to wear or an Easter basket to find, but because Easter proclaims the most powerful, the most special, the most exciting message we can ever hear – Alleluia, Christ is Risen, Christ is Risen Indeed, Alleluia. No matter the hate and violence (which Jesus experienced on the cross), no matter the despair and betrayals, no matter the seemingly hopelessness of a situation (dead and lying in a tomb), God is not defeated. God is not done loving the world. God is not giving up, giving in until there is life, new life for all of God’s creation. The world, our human sinfulness, did its best to silence God’s love incarnate in Christ. The resurrection is God’s loud shout – NO to fear and hate and YES to love and life. Brian Wren captures the message so well in the hymn, Christ is Risen! Shout Hosanna!
Christ is risen! Shout Hosanna! Celebrate this day of days!
Christ is risen! Hush in wonder: all creation is amazed.
In the desert all surrounding, see, a spreading tree has grown.
Healing leaves of grace abounding bring a taste of love unknown.
Christ is risen! Raise your spirits from the caverns of despair.
Walk with gladness in the morning. See what love can do and dare.
Drink the wine of resurrection, not a servant but a friend.
Jesus is our strong companion. Joy and peace shall never end.
Christ is risen! Earth and heaven nevermore shall be the same.
Break the bread of new creation where the world is still in pain.
Tell its grim, demonic chorus: “Christ is risen. Get you gone!”
God the First and Last is with us. Sing Hosanna, everyone!
There are lots of voices shouting at us and around us these days. It is time for us, as the church, to start shouting back – Hosanna! Christ is Risen! Love is the way to heal the world. So you grim, demonic choruses that continue to spread fear and hate, indifference and intolerance – Get you gone! Love is here to stay.