The Christian faith just celebrated another Easter day.
With Easter over, it is time to put Granny’s deviled egg dish back in the china cabinet and settle back into the routine.
Not so fast! I challenge you with the question, “Is Easter just one day?”
For the Christian community, Easter is not about just one day. For one, those who follow the church liturgical calendar observe Eastertide, the seven Sundays after Easter. Eastertide represents the 50 days between Easter and the Day of Pentecost, the day we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit and the birthday of the Church. Eastertide mirrors the time the resurrected Lord was on Earth before he ascended into heaven. Mary saw the resurrected Lord first but during this time 1 Corinthians 15:5-7 has Christ, appearing to Simon Peter (Cephas) “then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.”
The 40th day is Ascension Day, where the church observes the ascension of Christ into heaven to sit at the right hand of God. Historically, new converts to the faith were baptized on Easter Sunday and the 50-day period was a time of instruction about their new identities as members of the Christian faith.
To take another step, every Sunday is considered a “little” Easter, as Christians celebrate the first day of the week as the day of resurrection. Please go with me another step, for a follower of Christ every day is Easter.
The Rev. William Marceus James (1913-2013) wrote the powerful hymn, “Easter People, Raise Your Voices” for his congregation at Metropolitan Community United Methodist Church in New York City. He said, “I wrote hymns for my congregation whenever I needed one. ‘Easter People’ is not the greatest hymn, but it took better than the others.”
The first verse opens with “Easter People, raise your voices!” The second verse reminds us of Christ’s victory over sin and death with the words, “Fear of death can no more stop us, on to victory now we go.” It is the third verse I want to call to your attention. “Every day to us is Easter with its resurrection song, even when life overwhelms us Easter people sing this song: Alleluia alleluia Everlasting Sunday song.”
Like many great hymns of faith, “Easter People Raise Your Voices” is found both in The Baptist Hymnal (1991) and The United Methodist Hymnal (1989).
Easter is not just one day; for a follower of Christ, it is living the victory, every moment, every day.
“Alleluia! Alleluia! On to victory now we go.”
Eric Reece is the faith columnist for The Graham Star. He is the pastor of Robbinsville United Methodist Church and can be reached via email, ereece@wnccumc.net.