Great 50 Days of Easter

Lessons from the Great Fifty Days of Easter

"I looked and saw a nurse, dressed in white, standing by a bed in the improvised ICU. Why do you seek the living among the dead?" she asked, pulling back the curtain to reveal an empty bed. In my confusion, I turned and walked outside, leaving the hospital as if it were a tomb and going into the streets.

There were hundreds of people there, people laughing and talking, people strolling hand in hand, children playing in the parks, people hugging one another as they met on busy sidewalks. The shops were full. The streets were full. The city was overflowing with the sounds of life, joyous and unending, beneath a clear and sunny sky. I stood transfixed. Then I remembered: it was Easter Day!"—Steven Charleston's Facebook Page, Easter 2020.

Langley Easter New York Grace Church

In case you did not see this previous Easter Facebook Page by Bishop Charleston, here it is! He tells us what the resurrection of our state, country, and world will look like. He constantly reminds us to look fear in the eye. He shows us what hope looks like. Reread the resurrection stories of Jesus. So often, he says, "Fear not. Do not be afraid; Peace be with you."

Not being afraid means knowing God is beside us and cares about us. God walks beside us today so that we, again this year, can take the joy of Easter out of our churches. The Easter Parade is a reminder of a movement into our streets, shops, and workplaces to share the good news.

Easter Parade

Customs and traditions can also help us remember the love of God walking with us, especially during a joyous holiday such as Easter. My granddaughter Zoe and I have a custom of watching the movie Easter Parade on Holy Saturday. Later, one Easter Day, after lunch, I watched the Easter Parade with our oldest granddaughter, Langley, who had never seen it. That night, she showed me pictures of that day's Easter Parade in New York City. It was very different from the past, but still joyous.

This Easter, Langley, who is now in school in New York, sent us a picture of the Easter parade at her church in the city. A tradition even celebrated when we are apart.

We need traditions to remind ourselves of life and love in the past. We also live in the present and bring the traditions forward to keep remembering. Customs can be as simple as watching a movie with people you love. Traditions help us remember a past time of God's love and promise. Sometimes, we can enjoy the experience even more in our memories.

The joy of the great fifty days of Easter is an excellent time to celebrate family traditions and memories of love.