Resurrection Season
Posted in The Historical Faith and tagged with Holidays, Resurrection Day on March 25, 2010
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how if Easter were Christmas, this would be Easter season right now. Granted, I know that there is Lent, which is kinda like an Easter season, but I don’t see Christ being the central figure in most Lent sacrifices and activities.
For whatever reason, Resurrection Day*–just as important to the Christian faith (if not more…that’s a debate to have)–doesn’t have the same weight to it as Christmas does. Though it’s still taken over by commercialization and secular celebration, which is certainly not a blessing. Yet we know that Christ’s death and resurrection is a big deal. I want it to be a big deal in my life.
So, in this Resurrection Season, I’ve chosen to spend more time with God through Bible reading and prayer (which I hope will be a permanent change). I’ve gone on walks in the beautiful spring weather listening to praise music and praising Him. I’ve spent more time in heart-searching conversation with those I love and trust. I’ve read some great authors who are helping me–along with the Bible and the Holy Spirit–to plumb the depths of wicked, sinful heart.
If you’re a Christian, I encourage you to spend some extra time considering the Cross and our need for it. If you’re not, why not take some time to research what Christianity is all about?
*While I do use the term “Easter” because more people understand and recognize it, I actually prefer “Resurrection Day” as it not only highlights the resurrection, it doesn’t confuse the Christian holiday with the ancient celebrations of fertility goddesses.
Photo by mtbjohn
March 25th, 2010 at 7:12 am
Great post! In most of the liturgical seasons of the church year, Christ, sadly, is not the focus (because before Lent, there was Epiphany). I think most people don’t hearken to Lent because when you get to the nitty-gritty, it focuses on our sinfulness and mortality more than many of the other seasons (with the exception, maybe, of Advent). It’s not pleasant to go against what society tells you, to realize that no matter how special you are, you too will die because you too are a sinner, and you too need Someone to save you.
March 25th, 2010 at 10:12 am
yeah, I’ve often thought to myself how slighted Easter gets. I mean, without an Easter there wouldn’t be a Christmas, right? Good reminder to focus in on the huge weight of this ‘season’.
March 25th, 2010 at 11:03 am
Erin: But without Christmas there’d be no Easter…I’m just saying. I still haven’t figured out which is the bigger deal, so I might just say “both!”
March 25th, 2010 at 11:17 am
Ronnica, I agree with your “both”. Thanks for a great post about the significance of this season.
March 25th, 2010 at 11:21 am
Great thoughts and great motivation for me. Every day I wake up I think to myself, “I need to get my family ready for Easter!” and yet the days are flying by. I’m woefully behind. I want to make this a season that they look forward to – as much as Christmas! I’m just not getting my act together. BUt I really seriously need to. Because it’s important.
Thanks for the prompting!
March 25th, 2010 at 2:22 pm
I have heard all my life that Easter is the most important holiday for Christians yet we don’t really put that in practice, do we? Every year I vow to do better but every year I fail. I will keep trying!
March 25th, 2010 at 9:11 pm
My daughter just got the “spirit,” and it’s contagious! We’re getting back from FLA on Saturday, and going to Palm Sunday services. Haven’t gone in years…
March 26th, 2010 at 9:00 am
Mm. Good insights. I’ve been trying to memorize Scripture during Lent and I hope to keep it up afterwards. It would be up to us, this generation, to start making more of Easter or Resurrection Day. To make the children we influence more aware of its grand significance and equality with, if not being more substantial than, Christmas.
March 26th, 2010 at 9:57 am
Amanda: Yes! It’s way too easy today to think we’re basically good and we’ll be fine…hard to go against the culture we live in!
Carrie: You’re welcome! I hadn’t even thought about what it would be to get a family ready for Resurrection Day, and not just an individual.
Debbie: Yes, me too!
Vicki: Always a good thing. I’m trying to re-start my memorizing of Romans 8. We do have a responsibility to influence our children to understand the importance of Resurrection Day. I was glad when I mentioned Easter to my K-5 Sunday school class last week that they corrected me when I started talking about Easter eggs, bunnies, and baskets.
March 27th, 2010 at 12:47 am
If Constantine had been a bit bolder, we could call it ‘Resurrection Day’. Instead, he tried to ‘blend’ pagan and Christian holidays and Easter is the result!
Great post.
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March 27th, 2010 at 8:58 am
This is a great post. You are right, Resurrection day shouldn’t just be a day, it should be a season.
March 29th, 2010 at 11:56 am
Betty: The more I study history, the more I conclude that Constantine’s “conversion” was a political move. Still, he isn’t to blame for calling the holiday “Easter” as that’s actually from later in Old English. I like Vicki’s idea of instilling “Resurrection Day” an it’s wonderful meaning in our children.
December 1st, 2011 at 9:09 pm
I know this is an old post, but I’m intrigued by your faith-based posts. This certainly is an interesting point of view. Though, as a Catholic, I certainly believe that the Church has tried to maintain the importance of remembering the sacrifice that was made so many years ago; not only during Lent, but also in the daily and Sunday Mass. It’s just hard to compete with commercial happy-go-lucky images when your message is ‘repent’. Just a thought.