Easter People
In a song called Easter People sung by Tasmanian folk singers John Coleman and Ian Bartle the words from the chorus came back to me as I contemplated this Easter: “There’s a rising in the hearts of you and me, Easter people there is a rising again.”
In the Easter gospel stories the passion and resurrection of Jesus the Christ births a new community. Indeed, to a disparate and despondent group of people, grieving and lacking purpose, the message of Jesus dead and risen again, was transformative. The community of God’s Easter people emerged from a motley crew of Christ’s followers to become a movement that changed the world.
Easter is not just remembering a one-off past event because this transforming work continues today. It often begins with a change or softening of people’s hearts that revitalises their trust in God. We are invited to ponder how Christ’s suffering love and service gives hope and courage to rise!
Easter faith comes through both the action of God and the counter cultural behaviour of God’s people. Something much bigger than loyalty to a like-minded group happens. People experience God’s saving grace and their living testimonies of how “I/we trust in the risen Lord” has a ripple effect.
Faith communities throughout the ages have expressed their trust in the person of Jesus. They show how their eyes and hearts have been opened to the bigger picture of God’s saving action for the world by being part of a community of love.
To be Easter People is to continue to trust in a God whose intent is salvation, liberation, and healing. To find and believe that love is stronger than hate and life can rise again even in places of death. We are reminded that God sent Jesus not to condemn the world but that the world might be saved through him. God’s voice speaks of forgiveness and mercy and this can change people’s hearts and minds.
Sometimes, in folly, we might think that we can effect change by inventing innovative programs and adding new structures to church life. However, it happens more often when people experience good relationships in the church and have their hearts moved to respond to God’s love and life seen in Jesus the Christ. This seems to echo the rising of our hearts alluded to in Coleman and Bartle’s song Easter People.
As Easter people, we can rise above our cares and fears. We can trust in the love that will, “not let us go”.
May we have courage and arise knowing that we belong to Christ and are never alone.
A Blessed Easter to all.
Rev Dr Lynette Dungan