LR Podcast Clip: Easter Message 2025

Easter Sunday is here, and that is good! I’ve been thinking a lot though about what we call Holy Saturday, the day in-between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. I wonder if that wasn’t a greater test of faith for the twelve Apostles than even Good Friday. On that Friday, things moved so fast— from the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus’ arrest, his trial and crucifixion. If would have all happened so fast from the point of view of the Disciples. That Saturday though, being the sabbath, there would have been nothing to do but reflect on events of the day before. The Disciples were in hiding and afraid. They had a good reason to be afraid; their leader had been convicted as a criminal and guilt by association was probably something they very much worried about. They were also in mourning for their teacher, mentor, and best friend. They were confused and demoralized. They were not at all sure on that first Holy Saturday they would ever see Jesus again, at least not in this world. They no doubt woke up on that Sunday morning still in despair, until they received news that Jesus’ tomb was empty, and Peter and John ran to the tomb to find it indeed empty. They found the burial shroud folded neatly in one part of the tomb, and the cloth for Jesus’s head in another. John at least, realized instantly that He is risen. Thomas would not even believe after his fellow disciples told him of Christ’s resurrection. He had to see to believe, but still, he did. What a joy that would have been!

Easter is actually a season, 50 days long with the first eight days dedicated to actively celebrating the miracle of the resurrection. This suggests that Easter celebration is a process, not a singular thing we do. It can begin as on that first Easter, with the faithful afraid, doubtful, devastated. Then as word begins to get out regarding the miracle of the risen Christ, confusion then hope, then finally joy at the realization of the truth. Not all of Christ’s disciples went through each of these phases at the same time. John believed and accepted right away, and Thomas… not so much. The hope is that we all get there in the end, or actually, in the beginning of our new lives.