He's Not Here - A Final Lenten Minute for Mar. 26

“Why do you seek the living one among the dead?" - Luke 24:5

Saturday, the day before Easter Sunday.  A silent world. Yesterday, Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for us, giving up his life for us by dying on a cross.  Why?  I'm sure that that was the question on every one of his disciples' minds.  Three years they followed him; they listened to his teachings and saw the powerful signs he performed.  They shared the joy of his mere presence.  His message was one of love and peace, so why did he have to die that way - so violently, so humiliatingly?  In fact, he was the Son of God! Why did he have to die at all? It's a question we still ask today, 2000 years later.  The answer lies in our vigil celebration tonight - Jesus overcomes death with his resurrection! He's NOT dead. He's alive!

We believe in the resurrection, or so we profess.  So why do we continue to seek Jesus among the dead?  There is a hole in our heart that cries out to be filled.  We search for the joy of his presence in earthly delights and pleasures.  But our world today, with all its beauty and wonders, is still a dead world - for it is passing away, and our time here is short. We won't find Jesus in the external, limited pleasures offered by this world.  He's alive!  And he's living in our hearts.

We don't seek the living among the dead.  We bring the living to the dead, in order that the dead may live again.  Remember this tomorrow when you partake of the various Easter celebrations and indulge in the items that you fasted from for the last 40 days.  Easter isn't about an event, it is about a man. A man who once died 2000 years ago and who lives today.  Don't seek the living one among the dead. Seek the living one who is in your heart and in the hearts of all true believers.  Then, go with him to bring life to others.  That's what Easter is about.

Thank you for journeying  with me through Lent.  The Easter Dawn awaits us all.  Let us embrace the living Christ in all we meet.