Now What?

Lent 2012 was a wonderful experience.

At Vintage, we spent time thinking about how we are free in the Spirit. The things that have mastered us in the past don't have to master us now. We can reimagine our lives. We can break out of our rut and live differently. Lent gives us a 40-day opportunity to experiment with this freedom.

For me personally, I gave up alcohol during the 40 days of Lent. I joked that every couple of years I need to remind myself that I am not an alcoholic. But it is actually really important to remember that even the good things can easily become a master. I want to have no master but Jesus.

Sometimes Lent is dark, but not this year. This year it was an energizing time for me. It was kind of fun.

And so was Easter. I love Easter. I love my annual Cadbury Egg. I love the annual kids' sermon at Vintage, even though I joke that I don't. I love how loud the band is on Easter Sunday. I love hanging with my friends and celebrating life together.

So this morning, I am wondering "now what?" Lent was such an intentional time full of conscious thought about the choices I was making. I couldn't coast through Lent, and I didn't. And I don't want to go back to coasting through my life. However, I also don't want to immediately enter into another prolonged spiritual experiment. My soul needs some downtime.

What do I do now that Easter is over? I think Jesus provides the answer - I live. Easter is about life, how great life is, how life is what God intended for us. And so the best thing I can do now is be fully alive. I need to live.

I love my wife.
I laugh with my kids.
I have lunch with my friends.
I get my work done with as much excellence as I can.
I write.
I watch the sunset and my favorite TV shows.
I spend some time with my neighbors.
I attempt to spread grace and justice.
I am alive.

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Everyday is Holy Saturday

I didn't grow up observing holy week. I vaguely remember Palm Sunday being something, but we always rushed right into Easter, cantata and all. In the churches of my youth, we rarely entered into the story. We didn't sit with Jesus and his disciples at the table in the upper room. We didn't walk with him to the cross. We didn't place his body in the tomb. We knew the story, but we just didn't entered into it.

For the last couple of years, at Vintage Fellowship, we have observed Holy Week. We have sought to insert ourselves into the story so that when Easter finally arrives, we have something to celebrate. Beginning on Thursday, we gather together each evening in simplicity and quiet. The story itself is central. It has become one of my favorite weeks in the calendar.

Maundy Thursday - We gather like Jesus did with his disciples. We pray and share communion. We wash one another's feet and sing a hymn.

Good Friday - We go to the cross. We try to really observe it. We listen closely to the story. We hear the nails being pounded. We feel the blood spatter. We exhale as Jesus breathes his last. We go in silence.

Holy Saturday - We sit shiva. We sit and say very little.

Tonight as we were sitting shiva for Jesus I realized something. Most of my life is Holy Saturdays.

I have a few days that are like Maundy Thursday, when I truly humble myself and serve others. But not too many.  I have a few days like Good Friday, when I sacrifice and suffer and deeply feel the loss. But not too many. I have a few days like Easter, when I am raptured in joy and victory. But not too many.

Mostly, I just have the numbness of God being buried and dead. Most of my days are Holy Saturdays.

I don't know quite what to make of this observation about my life. I imagine I will begin to unpack it in the coming days. Maybe by the time Holy Saturday rolls around next year, I'll have more insight. Tonight, I'm content to just admit that I miss God.






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Christ Is Risen

An Easter Sermon by John Chyrsostom (349-407)

Is there anyone who is a devout lover of God?
Let them enjoy this beautiful bright festival!
Is there anyone who is a grateful servant?
Let them rejoice and enter into the joy of their Lord!

Are there any weary with fasting?
Let them now receive their wages!
If any have toiled from the first hour,
let them receive their due reward;
If any have come after the third hour,
let him with gratitude join in the Feast!
And he that arrived after the sixth hour,
let him not doubt; for he too shall sustain no loss.
And if any delayed until the ninth hour,
let him not hesitate; but let him come too.
And he who arrived only at the eleventh hour,
let him not be afraid by reason of his delay.

For the Lord is gracious and receives the last even as the first.
He gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour,
as well as to him that toiled from the first.
To this one He gives, and upon another He bestows.
He accepts the works as He greets the endeavor.
The deed He honors and the intention He commends.

Let us all enter into the joy of the Lord!
First and last alike receive your reward;
rich and poor, rejoice together!
Sober and slothful, celebrate the day!

You that have kept the fast, and you that have not,
rejoice today for the Table is richly laden!
Feast royally on it, the calf is a fatted one.
Let no one go away hungry. Partake, all, of the cup of faith.
Enjoy all the riches of His goodness!

Let no one grieve at his poverty,
for the universal kingdom has been revealed.
Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again;
for forgiveness has risen from the grave.
Let no one fear death, for the Death of our Savior has set us free.
He has destroyed it by enduring it.

He destroyed Hades when He descended into it.
He put it into an uproar even as it tasted of His flesh.
Isaiah foretold this when he said,
"You, O Hell, have been troubled by encountering Him below."

Hell was in an uproar because it was done away with.
It was in an uproar because it is mocked.
It was in an uproar, for it is destroyed.
It is in an uproar, for it is annihilated.
It is in an uproar, for it is now made captive.
Hell took a body, and discovered God.
It took earth, and encountered Heaven.
It took what it saw, and was overcome by what it did not see.
O death, where is thy sting?
O Hades, where is thy victory?

Christ is Risen, and you, o death, are annihilated!
Christ is Risen, and the evil ones are cast down!
Christ is Risen, and the angels rejoice!
Christ is Risen, and life is liberated!
Christ is Risen, and the tomb is emptied of its dead;
for Christ having risen from the dead,
is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

To Him be Glory and Power forever and ever. Amen!