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From Rev. Brock Patterson
“Easter People”
“Hello, Easter People!” Some years ago, that was a catchphrase used by lots of pastors and churches to try and remind everyone that Easter is supposed to change things. We’re supposed to be happy and joyful, with twinkling eyes and big smiles.
Is that reality? For lots of people, no. We still awoke on Easter with the same problems, pains, and doubts. Many people in this first week of the Easter Season find that life has changed little (if at all) since the beginning of Lent, seven weeks ago.
Why haven’t we changed? When it comes down to it, it’s really up to us if we want to make Easter count for anything. If we don’t want to recognize the benefits resulting from my Lenten sacrifices, then we won’t experience the positive changes that resulted.
It’s up to us, whether or not we want Easter 2023 to mean anything. If we wish to continue to be a stick in the mud, we can. Or, if we want to sing like Snow White every morning when we wake up, we can do that, too. Either way, to be an Easter People we must allow the benefits of Easter to penetrate our hearts, mind, and soul. Jesus rising from the tomb isn’t going to change anything if we don’t let him.
What did we learn at Easter? Did we learn that we don’t have to have a glass of wine every day to be happy? Did we learn that reading the book is better than watching the movie? Or, did we learn that God is listening to our prayers, even if we can’t hear God’s answer?
We learned something during this Lenten and Easter Season. Take some time to think about it. In fact, pray about it. Let’s thank God for showing us something new and ask God to help us make a difference for those whom we love and those that we wish weren’t our enemies. God has been with us these past seven weeks and God is going to be there these next seven weeks… and beyond!
We are an Easter People, but we’ve got to believe it for ourselves!
God Bless, Brock.
“Come and see God’s deeds; His works for human beings are awesome…”
(Psalm 66:5, CEB)
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