Years ago, in church choir I learned a song that goes like this:
Every morning is Easter morning from now on!
Every day's resurrection day,
the past is over and gone!
Good-bye guilt, good-bye fear, good riddance!
Hello, Lord, Hello, sun!
I am one of the Easter People!
My new life has begun!
Maybe you're familiar with this song written by Richard K. Avery and Donald S. Marsh. In addition to what I've listed above, the song has two additional verses. (To see the words to all 3 verses, plus to hear the tune, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PD2ogutong).
I love how this song affirms that Easter was more than just a day that came and went nearly 2,000 years ago. The events of that Sunday morning long ago were the start of something new in the history of the world. A movement began that has changed—and continues to change—the world.
Easter was not the end of an era. Instead, it was the beginning of something new and exciting that's still taking place today!
The Apostle Paul wrote, "We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him" Romans 6:9, (NRSV). If Christ will never die again, that means there will never be another Good Friday. His resurrection was once and for all. Christ is alive and continues to live. That means every day is a celebration of the resurrection. Every morning is indeed Easter!
The first time I sang Every Morning, I remember being struck by the line: "Good-bye guilt, good-bye fear, good riddance!" I felt convicted then, because I realized I was still hanging on to guilt and fear from the past. I wonder how many other folks are bearing similar burdens? Jesus' resurrection sets
us free so that we can say "good riddance" to guilt, fear, worry, and other weapons that the Evil One uses to keep us from living the victorious life that God intends for each one of us.
I love the idea of being one of the "Easter People". We might say it's better than being "cross" people! 😊 Because we are Easter People, we have new life. The past is over and gone. We can find hope, meaning, joy, and even excitement in the midst of a world that seems filled only with bad
news. We know that God is in charge, and we don't have to remain stuck in the mire and muck of this world.
As we move through the Easter season and as the year continues to unfold, I invite you to join me as one of the Easter People who celebrates Easter every day…from now on!
Grace & Peace,
Pastor Clayton