The Everlasting Joy of Easter

Dear Pali Pres Family,

Believe it or not, my boys are still finding Easter eggs around the house. Yes, still. Now, some of that has to do with the Easter Bunny hiding the eggs really well this year. But the other reason Joshua and Luke are still finding eggs is because they keep asking me and Mary to hide them! Nearly every night they go through the same routine of sorting their Easter goodies, filling dozens of eggs on their own, and then pleading with their parents to hide the eggs so they can do one more Easter egg hunt. “Just one more time, we promise!” It’s very cute.

Mary and I oblige (most of the time) because of how happy it makes our children. And, honestly, we want our boys to savor the joy of Easter for as long as they can. Why not?!

To me these endless Easter egg hunts serve as a perfect metaphor for us as Christians. As I said in my sermon this past Sunday, Easter was not a one-day event. Yes, Easter Sunday was nearly three weeks ago but the good news of Easter is something to embrace every day! We gather to worship on Sundays because that is the day of Jesus’ resurrection. And each Sunday we hear the assurance that we are loved, forgiven, and provided for by the God who raised Jesus from the dead. As it says in 1 Peter 1:3, we have a “living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

So, as we move further away from Easter Sunday with each passing day, I encourage you to hold tight to the Good News. Do not forget the living hope you have been given through the resurrection. While I suspect you have little interest in doing your own Easter egg hunt, I do hope you find some way to keep the joy of Easter in your heart…some way to remind yourself, each day, of the assurances you have through Christ.

Grace and peace,

Pastor Matt