But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” 8 And they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.-Luke 24:1-9
As has been the trend with the latest newsletter covers, I thought it would only be appropriate to give a brief introduction to the season of Easter and talk about what to expect. Like every time, I am heavily indebted to my old professor, Dr. Timothy Maschke, who taught me about the Church Year, and for his book, Gathered Guests: A Guide to Worship in the Lutheran Church, which helped to serve as the basis for this article and the others. He helped to create a love in me for the seasons of the Church, and he opened my eyes to what they all pointed to: Jesus Christ.
Length: Easter is not just a day, but it is also a season. This can get lost amidst things like spring break, vacations, school getting out, and nice weather returning (at the time of writing this, the snow is almost gone!). Easter is a 50 day celebration that also includes Jesus’ ascension (always a Thursday and 40 days after His resurrection). To help emphasize this celebration aspect, Sundays are called “of Easter.” The church dedicates 1/7 of the year celebrating Easter!
Origin and Date: Have you ever wondered why Easter is the date it is? Have you ever wondered why it is in March one year, and then in April another? Have you ever wondered why the date of Easter can vary by weeks from year to year? Well, I got an answer for you! Easter is the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox. Since that date can vary, the date of Easter can vary.
If you are one of those who wish that Easter would be a fixed date, you are in good company. Martin Luther expressed frustration that the date changes from year to year, and wished that it would be a fixed date. If you want a fixed date of Easter, say, “I’m with Luther on this!”
One last thing to note is that Easter was the first season that the Church observed, making it the oldest!
Themes: Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus, and it is a time for all Christians to profess their faith in a risen and victorious Lord. Many of the Gospel texts are post resurrection appearances of Jesus that touch on the mysterious and miraculous nature of His resurrection. The Acts readings (first reading) “emphasize the rapid spread of the joyous Good News of Jesus’ victory over sin and death and the consequent growth of the Christian community throughout the world.” The last Sunday of Easter looks forwards to the sending of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.
Color: White is the color of “celebration, purity, innocence, and gladness.” What an appropriate color for the season of Easter! The color of white is also associated with important events in Jesus’ life, like his birth and baptism. It is also interesting to note that the word for “white” in Latin is alba, which is also the name of the “gown” or “robe” that pastors and assisting ministers wear (that is also white).
Blessings this Easter season!
Pastor Kooi
(Originally published in Emmaus Footprints, Vol. XX, Number 9, April 2019)