Eastertide
For Reflection Roundup each week, we gather news stories, notable pieces, and other important items for Christian leaders today. As always, listening broadly draws together differing perspectives from which we can learn but may not concur. Here are 7 things worth sharing this week, a list shortened from the usual 10 to coincide with the remaining weeks of the Easter season.
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Rather than a single Resurrection Sunday, Easter is an entire season in which Christians explore new life containing eight weeks total.
1. Alea Piester writes a simple yet profound reminder — that true joy has the ability to obliterate happiness — in “Easter Joy” for St. Matthews, Newport. Piester includes reference to the affirmation faith that comes from openness to doubts, acknowledgement of which takes place each second Sunday of Eastertide, called “Thomas Sunday.” Who would predict the ability of profound grief and disorienting resurrection to create pools of deep joy within the followers of Christ, joy on which we have drawn now for thousands of years? Thomas gained personal access to this joy by expressing his doubt, doubt over which he may have been unhappy with himself. Nevertheless, he chose to admit it to the one who could take him on a deep dive into lasting joy that prevailed over all questions and circumstances. “Thomas Sunday” offers a space for each of us to open ourselves to a deeper and more salient joy, albeit through unexpected means.
2. Leaning into Easter as a season can feel like foreign territory for some Protestant Evangelicals. For help with this, we can turn to our Catholic brothers and sisters for some help. Catholic Culture shares “Catholic Activity: The Time Of Easter or Eastertide,” a nice “nuts and bolts” piece that offers the universal Church an exposition on the current Christian season. Some observe this coming Sunday, the third in the season, as “Meal Sunday,” a great time to gather and intentionally feast on the truth of our risen Savior and share some food.
3. The fourth Sunday of Eastertide is “Good Shepherd Sunday.” Christians who follow the liturgical calendar for Gospel readings and sermon passages draw material from John 21, in which Jesus questions Peter’s love and charges him with the feeding of the flock as ministry. Writing for the JCFN Blog, Dr. Sachi Nakamura shares “In the Name of Jesus (by Henri J. M. Nouwen) Part 2,” guaranteed to whet the appetite of anyone who has not read Nouwen’s short volume (and reminding all who have) of its timeless truths for leaders. The bottom line lies within the temptation to do something spectacular. This sinful drive is an easy one to anoint. After all, it’s for the sake of Christ! But Nouwen via Nakamura reminds us that the keys to the kingdom hang low to the ground and are discovered on knees bent in confession. Jesus spoke his leadership charge to Peter, a fact which in itself reminds leaders how easy it is to get sidetracked and blindsided by our enemy, or even ourselves.
4. The fifth Sunday of Easter is known as “I AM Sunday,” a day on which Christians remember Jesus’ teaching in John 15: “I am the vine; you are the branches.” Our job is to remain in Christ, and we will bear fruit for the kingdom. A wise friend pointed out to me that our job is not to bear, it is to remain where we cannot help but bear. Chase Snyder shares “I Am The Vine, You Are The Branches – John 15:5,” a blog piece on his own website. Snyder begs us to assess our connection to the vine through asking ourselves some straightforward questions.
5. The sixth Sunday of Easter, “Rogation Sunday,” actually ushers in a three-day fast as Christians remember Christ’s Ascension, celebrated on Thursday of the following week in some Christian traditions with a special feast day. Helpful when contemplating a fast, and for desiringGod.org, David Mathis shares “Fasting for Beginners” reminding us all that Jesus said not “if you fast,” but “when.” Mathis shares valuable, practical insight reminding readers there’s not much more to do but taste only the goodness of the Lord and see the fruit of this particular type of feast.
6. The secular website nationaltoday.com recognizes the seventh Sunday of Easter, Ascension Sunday, explaining its significance and history in a compelling and helpful way. Did you know that Ascension Day has a historical connection with Father’s Day in Germany, as Christians there have celebrated Jesus’ return to his father along with the celebration of earthly parental relationships? Caution: this web address can be addicting and can lead to celebrating many memorable days with people groups all over the world!
7. And finally, Pentecost Sunday rounds out the eight Sundays of the Easter season. Drawn from within the Christianity Today archives, the April 14, 1967, editorial piece “The Spirit of Pentecost” offers perspective on both what has changed and what has not with regard to the Church’s acknowledgement of the movement of the Spirit, and our willingness to follow. Despite contextual differences relative to the decade, the struggles we currently experience are markedly unchanged. The reframing the current world moment requires may offer opportunity on several fronts for following the Spirit’s lead when we are willing to break from old patterns.
