He Is Risen!

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!  

- Luke 24:1-6

Today is known as Easter Monday, and is actually an official holiday in some countries (we need to work on that here in the U.S. Ha!).

In the Eastern Orthodox Church and some branches of the Catholic Church, it is also called “Bright Monday”, or “Renewal Monday.”

Many traditions and customs are carried out by various branches of Christianity and even by some countries. For example, in Eastern Christianity, if the birthday of a patron saint occurs on Easter Sunday, or even during Holy Week, it is celebrated on Easter Monday.

In Australia, and even here in the U.S., the holiday is celebrated with annual sporting events, and here in the U.S., the annual White House Easter Egg Roll takes place on Easter Monday.

In some traditions, it is also known as Wet Monday, where spouses and siblings wake each other up by pouring buckets of water on each other. And while many customs and traditions are carried out, for some, it is simply a day of rest following a busy Holy Week schedule.

It always intrigues me how some holidays or religious observances come into existence, but like most, they often turn into nothing more than a day off for people to do what they want.

I am not saying we should observe Easter Monday, as the joy and celebration of Easter Sunday is all we need to catapult us into days, weeks, and even months of sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. He came from Heaven to Earth to pay the penalty for our sins, died a horrible death on the cross, and was resurrected on Easter morning.

HE IS RISEN!

As the angels said to the women, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?”

Everyday, not just Easter Monday, is one more opportunity for us to proclaim this Good News and share the love of Jesus with all who cross our paths.

May we embrace the power of the Resurrection and proclaim to the world that we, too, who were once dead, are now alive in Jesus. May we celebrate Easter Monday for what it really is…

… the first day of the rest of our lives to participate and tell others about the resurrection of Jesus and the new life we have in Him.

Pastor Ken

‍