Merry Easter?

The last couple of years, I've begun to realize how much emphasis we place on Christmas and how little emphasis we place on Easter. At least in my church-going experiences.The 40 days of Lent seems to be seen as a Catholic or High Church thing, but isn't it really a special holiday season for all believers of Christ? At Christmas, we stress the importance of God sending his son as a little baby to save us. But, really, Easter is the BIG holiday. I mean, if Jesus had only come as a little baby and that was it, Christianity wouldn't even exist. It's Jesus' dying on the cross and rising from the dead that is the foundation of our belief system. Yet, most evangelical Christians (including myself) seem to have left the celebration to one day of the year--Easter Sunday.

Here's a passage from this book, which is great one to read and reflect upon throughout Lent:

"It's that time of year again, when school children are coloring pictures of Jesus hanging on the cross, and shop owners fill their windows with gaily colored cutouts of the Flogging at the Pillar. In the malls, everyone's humming along with the seasonal hits on the sound system, like 'Oh Sacred Head, Sore Wounded' (did you hear the Chipmunk's version?). Car dealers are promoting Great Big Empty-Tomb Size discounts on Toyotas.

Yes, It's beginning to look a lot like Easter. Who hasn't been invited to a "In His Steps" party, where players move plastic pieces around the board emblazoned with a map of Jesus' last suffering days in Jerusalem?

Not me, for one. Somehow we just don't make the same boisterous fun of Holy Week that we do of Christmas. No one plans to have a holly jolly Easter."

--taken from a passage written by Fredrica Mathewes-Green, American Orthodox writer and columnist

She makes a good point. How many hours do I spend preparing for Christmas compared to Easter? So, the past two years, I've been trying to learn more about Lent and have been introducing more activities and opportunities for reflection to prepare for and celebrate that "HE HAS RISEN." I want my children to grow up understanding that Easter isn't just about eggs and bunnies, but about suffering on the cross and an empty tomb.

Over the next couple of weeks, I'll share some of activities and the resources I've found (especially for kids) to help our family more fully embrace Easter. I'd love to hear about your ideas, traditions and experiences as well!

Labels: Faith, holidays