Did you know that Easter isn’t over?! In Christian tradition, Easter is a season or part of the church calendar that lasts for 50 days. My friend Traci Rhoades shared this link in her weekly newsletter explaining the extended holiday period. It makes sense if we think about it – we prepare for Easter with 40 days of prayer, repentance, and reflection. Shouldn’t we celebrate Jesus’ victory over death and deliverance for even longer?
This week’s gospel reading is from John:
19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
John 20:19-31
May we be more than people who say we believe. May we be those who live as devoted followers who serve a risen Savior who has conquered death. May our expectant hope be contagious and obvious to those around us. May the Holy Spirit working in us. make us a light to everyone around us.
Shouldn’t we celebrate Jesus’ victory over death and deliverance for even longer?
Here’s this week’s Sunday contemporary collect:
Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery
established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all
who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ’s Body
may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
To consider:
- Have you ever celebrated Easter beyond Resurrection Sunday?
- How might you continue celebrating Jesus’ resurrection?
- Who might you share this idea of an extended celebration with or who could you invite to join you?
I’d love to hear your thoughts and ideas!
Coming Soon!
I’ll keep posting some of the traditional Sunday readings and prayers through the Easter season. But keep your eye out! Later this week I’ll start posting a new series of posts. As I dig into some research on James and Proverbs, I’d love to hear your questions and thoughts.
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Image by TC Perch from Pixabay
© 2019-2024 Jennifer Brown Jones
Life Beyond #Blessed 