Easter Sunday
-Henry David Thoreau
As I have said earlier in this series Thoreau was not a religious man. But he did have wisdom and insight into the human condition and the broad spiritual needs of humanity. At the heart of what he wrote was the need to live a life that has meaning. Meaning comes from action. It is not just what we believe that makes us who we are, it is what we do.
It is Easter. The Lenten journey has ended. The time of self-reflection and seeking new guidance and insight has brought us to this day. We entered the darkness on Good Friday and then the darkness was forever broken on this Easter morning. The holiest and most joyous of days in the Christian year.
The story is told in the book we Christians call Holy Scripture. Even the greatest and holiest of books must eventually be set down, having read its words. Then we must move on, as Thoreau says, to “commence living on its hint.”
- I have read the story.
- I have heard it countless times.
- It still resonates with hope and light, brighter each year.
- It still reminds me that God’s grace is greater than the powers of the world that seek to silence it.
- It still calls followers to live in a way differently than the world’s ways of living.
- It is called love.
Only that day dawns to which we are awake.
There is more day to dawn.
The sun is but a morning star.
― Henry David Thoreau, Walden
As the sun rises over the world on this Easter Sunday, may we be awake. The day is ahead of us. It is a day of grace and love.
The Lord is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed.
Thanks be to God!
Sing hallelujah, praise the Lord!
Sing with a cheerful voice;
exalt our God with one accord,
and in His Name rejoice.
Ne’er cease to sing, O ransomed host,
praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
until in realms of endless light
your praises shall unite.
There we to all eternity
shall join th'angelic lays
and sing in perfect harmony
to God our Savior’s praise;
He has redeemed us by His blood,
and made us kings and priests to God;
for us, for us, the Lamb was slain!
Praise ye the Lord! Amen.
