Easter Sunday 2022

Easter Sunday 2022

Dear Friends in Christ,

For Easter I offer you a reflection by Robert Radke, President and CEO of Episcopal Relief and development. ERD is the National Episcopal Church’s compassionate response to human suffering in the world that provides relief when disaster strikes as well as promoting sustainable development by addressing the root cause of suffering. If you would like to make a donation to support their work you can do so here: https://www.episcopalrelief.org/what-you-can-do/give/donate-now/individual-donation/

After the last two years, one could be forgiven for approaching this year's Easter celebration with a little trepidation. As tragedy and violence continues to spread around the world, it can feel hard to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ with the requisite joy it requires. And yet…

For many of us, this will be the first time in two years that we will celebrate Easter in person at our home congregations. To me, that is a sign of new life and brings with it great joy.

Early on in the pandemic, I prayed for a return to something resembling "normal." There have been moments for me over the last two years when it felt as if God had turned away — or at best, wasn't paying attention. God did not answer my prayers for a return to "normal."

Lately, I've stopped praying for a return to any sort of "normal." Instead, I am praying for God's help in making things better. We have an opportunity to bring about the Kingdom of God here on earth and we should seize it.

Letting go of the past and looking forward feels like a resurrection moment. It feels like Easter.

Welcoming the changes implied by bringing about the Kingdom of God on earth requires being open to being reborn and transformed by the unexpected. The possibilities of this rebirth and transformation are breathtaking… and not a little unsettling.

Even as the world continues to shift in scary and unpredictable ways beneath our feet, God's grace is powerfully at work within all of us. Christ is forever near as we work to fulfill His mission on earth to strengthen and empower our brothers and sisters in His name.

As I work to embrace the newness of our time, I take great comfort in this. With Christ beside us, we can welcome the stranger, discover new friends, and cultivate kindness in new and unexpected ways.

And as we are born anew in Christ this Easter, as the world around us continues to shift in troubling and unexpected ways, let us remain grounded by this one enduring truth: God is always with us, and always will be.

Wishing you a blessed Holy Week and a joyful Easter season,