Dear Fellow Workers in God’s Mission,
Around the planet, those who call Jesus Lord will move from a time of Lenten discipline to the glorious proclamation of Easter:
The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!
It is tempting for us to think that when we conclude our Easter services we are done with celebrating Easter—not in the least. It is a wise and good thing that the season of Easter lasts for fifty days. It is also appropriate that each Sunday is a mini-Easter upon which we celebrate the feast of the resurrection. One day cannot contain the Pascal mystery of God coming among us, touching us, dying and then rising for us. Fifty days is not enough. Every Sunday is not enough.
It was been said that we are an Easter people living in a Good Friday world. Indeed. And as an Easter people, we cannot contain ourselves. Every day and every moment is a time for Easter celebration. We are those who dare to follow Jesus Christ in his life of fearless love for the world. Our mission is to carry God’s message of reconciliation and restoration from our gathered communities into the world.
When our Easter Sunday service ends we are dismissed to this mission. We go forth into the world to be messengers of Jesus. We are his body in the world. And so let us celebrate Easter on Sunday. Let us celebrate Easter each and every day.
Agape and peace to you,
The Rt. Rev. James R. Mathes
Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego
