Christ is Risen

It's Easter Sunday: a really big day for Christians.

I like cute bunny rabbits, peeping chicks, pastel eggs and flowers. I live in central Minnesota, so I'll have to wait a while for the flowers, of course.

That's not what Easter is about, though.

I'm celebrating the death - and, today in particular - resurrection of my Lord, Jesus the Christ.

One of my favorite songs is "He's Alive!" - sung by quite a few people, including Don Francisco. I posted an excerpt of the lyrics yesterday. Picking up from the end of those line:

"...Back inside the house again
"The guilt and anguish came
"Everything I'd promised Him
"Just added to my shame
"['Cause] When at last it came to choices¹
"I denied I knew His name
"And even if He was alive¹
"It wouldn't be the same

"But suddenly the air was filled¹
"With a strange and sweet perfume¹
"Light that came from everywhere
"Drove the shadows from the room
"And Jesus stood before me
"With his arms held open wide
"And I fell down on my knees
"And I just clung to Him and cried¹

"Then He raised me to my feet¹
"And as I looked into His eyes
"The love was shining out from Him¹
"Like sunlight from the skies
"Guilt in my confusion
"Dissappeared [!] in sweet release
"And every fear I'd ever had
"Just melted into peace...."

"...He's alive and I'm forgiven
"Heaven's gates are open wide..."
("He's Alive!" (Don Francisco), from Risa Song Lyrics Archive)

We have the advantage - and disadvantage - of being separated from the resurrection of my Lord by a gulf of time. There's a good chance that I'll live to see the 2,000^th anniversary of His death and resurrection.

I can draw on the almost two millennia of accumulated wisdom, learning from the likes of St. Catherine of Siena and St. Augustine. I can read about the direct experiences of the apostles: but that's not the same as being there.

Besides, many people here in America have heard versions of what happened in and near Jerusalem so often that it's become a familiar tale. After all these centuries, I think it's easy to forget how stunning the events of that first Easter were.

Related posts:

• "He's Alive!"
  (April 3, 2010)
• "Good Friday, Catholic Beliefs, and Fitting In"
  (April 3, 2010)
• "Maundy Thursday, Holy Thursday: Yeah, It's a Pretty Big Deal"
  (April 1, 2010)

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¹ I've edited this excerpt to reflect Don Francisco's words in this recording. I have no doubt that the lyrics as posted in my source are what was written originally: but singers have been known to make changes during performance - sometimes improving the song, which looked just fine on paper.