He is Risen!

Someone I once knew told me about her family’s Easter tradition. When they were young and all living at home, her father used to wake them up on Easter morning proclaiming, “He is risen!” Even as they grew up and moved away, he would call his children on the phone on Easter morning greeting his children with, “He is risen!” Her father didn’t just say it; he proclaimed it as if it was the first time. As if this wasn’t the expected. As if Easter was new to him each year.

I often lose this newness—I allow the Bread of Life to go stale. I take for granted the mystery of Easter, of salvation, of activity of God in the life of someone such as myself. It takes work to keep any relationship fresh, even and most especially, one’s relationship with God. It wasn’t until I attended Good Friday service at my church, which was a Taize service this year, that I realized I had once again lost my wonder of it all. It is a wonder how the King of the Universe would continually and consistently see relationship with people like me.