Unholy Wretchedness

The Book of Acts says that after the resurrection, Jesus was seen by the apostles for forty days before ascending into heaven and ten days later on Pentecost, he poured out his Spirit on the Christian Church. And for this reason, the Christian church not only celebrates Easter on Resurrection Sunday, we celebrate the resurrection throughout the following number of weeks. Therefore, I want to encourage you to celebrate this festive season. It simply will not do to celebrate Lent by fasting and giving up various blessings and then not celebrate Easter. It will not do to dwell on the sufferings of Christ for several weeks and only give one day to the victory of the empty tomb. Christ surely humbled himself in the incarnation and bore our sorrows on the cross for a number of hours. But Jesus has been alive and well and reigning for nearly 2000 years. One of the great disasters of medieval theology was this very lopsidedness, ascribing so much energy to penitence and morbid introspection. And there is a certain kind of pharisaical pietism that delights in certain forms of abstinence and self-loathing. Certain people think they are more holy because they know they are so wretched. But Christ is risen. Therefore, if you gave up chocolate for Lent, make sure there are extra pieces on the dinner table throughout the Easter season. If you fasted from particular meals or on particular days, take extra helpings and rejoice before the Lord. Remember too that feasting was never meant to be some kind of self-centered gluttony. The feasts were always opportunities for Israel to share with those in need, to take portions to the sick and the poor. Therefore, use this festive season of Easter to bestow gifts upon one another, care for the sick, and give to those in need. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed.