Life Out of Death

Last spring, as Covid first set in and our church had to close its doors, I was reminded that Easter did not begin with churches filled with people – accompanied by choirs and joyful organ music. It began with an empty tomb, a few scared disciples, and a tomb emptied of death. It began even while it was still dark…

The promise of Easter is not that God is always going to make things turn out how we want, or even bring things back to the way they were before. Nor is the promise that God will take away the most difficult times in life. But Easter is the promise that it is exactly within the darkness and heartache and disappointments of life that God is at work… And the last word has yet to be spoken.

Easter is the promise that ultimately, fear and darkness are not the last word; the Coronavirus does not get to have the last word. Addiction, betrayal, illness, and suffering – do not get to have the last word. Because of Easter, we have hope. Because of Easter, we know that we worship a God who brings light out of darkness, hope out of despair, even life out of death.

Let us pray: We thank you, Gracious God, for raising Jesus from the dead. We thank you for the hope that Easter brings. Breath new life into us – even now. We ask in Jesus’ name. Alleluia. Amen.