As I returned to work after an exuberant Easter weekend one of my co-workers shuffled by me in the hallway and uttered, “Good morning Dave… how is your post-Easter letdown?” I simply replied, “I’m feeling it.” After all the build-up to one of the “big” weekends in the church that involves hours of planning and expectations, there is a sense of melancholy surrounding the Monday after Easter. I don’t throw a lot of extravagant parties, but for those of you who do, I’d imagine it’s very similar to watching the last guest leave and realizing it’s time to clean up.
I wonder if the disciples had the same feeling after realizing Christ really did rise from the dead. Imagine that conversation: “Wow. He really did it. He arose. He conquered death and the grave… Now what?” In modern-day it could sound something like this: “The prom is over. We said our vows. Our new baby is finally here. We paid off the last of our credit cards. Do we celebrate? Does everything go back to normal? What does normal even look like after this experience?”
The truth is, life does come back down – even after Easter – even in the 1st century. The disciples still had fish to catch and taxes to complete. Life is still happening. The responsibilities still exist. Easter doesn’t take away the mundane. I don’t think that’s the intent. Instead, Easter gives us hope through the mundane. Easter matters because it changed everything. And if we allow the Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead to touch our hearts, Easter changes us.
If you’re feeling the post-Easter blues, reread the Easter passages from the Bible. Read them every day this week. Remind yourself that while the Easter Day celebration is over, it doesn’t have to end. The real reason to celebrate is that Christ arose. And for those of us who follow Jesus, that’s a year-long reason for thankfulness. Admist the bills, grouchy kids, crappy bosses, and physical setbacks; Jesus came, conquered, and rose again. He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” Then they remembered his words. Luke 24:6-8 (NIV)
May you remember His words and His resurrection as you continue your week.
Til next time,
DP