Energizing Easter
Lydia Mulkey
April 11, 2023

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As Abba God has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
~John 20:21-23

There is a cartoon I saw a long time ago with an exhausted pastor after Easter standing near the empty tomb saying, “Jesus, if you’re not going to use this, do you mind if I lie down for a bit?” Holy week and Easter Sunday are now behind us and wow, what a wonderful, full week! The palm waving, baking, decorating, storytelling, and singing has me worn out. It was amazing to have so many gathered for Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Easter Sunday. Running out of bulletins is such a wonderful problem to have. When the week ended, I slept well!

So, other than a good nap, what is it that we are supposed to do after Easter Sunday? Well, when Jesus appeared resurrected, he said to the disciples, “As Abba God has sent me, so I send you.” Being Easter people means that we carry on Jesus’ work of loving the unloved, feeding the hungry, and working for justice for the poor and oppressed.

After the vibrant energy and joy of this Easter Sunday we just had, I am more than ready to continue this work with this community of faith that is united in love and justice! I hope you feel energized too. May God bless us as we do the work of Easter.