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I recently heard one of the many media pundits ask an interesting question.  “When did Easter become Christmas?”  He was alluding to the growing commercialization of Easter with more suggested gifts, more chocolate eggs, and more secular activities for both adults and children to celebrate the holiday.  Someone else referred to Easter as a ‘Hallmark Holiday’ once again alluding to the commercial opportunity to sell greeting cards.

              And unfortunately, while the commercialization of the holiday continues to grow spiritual interest in the significance of Easter continues to decline as indicated in Lent participation, Good Friday and Easter Sunday attendance.  Too preoccupied with other priorities would be my guess.

              The Easter season itself has now come and gone for another year.  Hopefully as Christians we recognized that the first Easter was not about chocolate or cards. It was, and always will be, about a death.  A death that was our Heavenly Father’s gift to us. A critical element in his salvation plan.  A death that provided a solution for our sin problem.  But it was also about life and hope!  The life of the resurrected Christ who in his parting words promised that he would always be with his followers and that someday he would come again!

              So as the Easter events on our calendars that we observed in our own personal way fade into our rearview mirrors it is easy to forget Easter for another year.  We must not let that happen!  Billions of believers around the world have an Easter to celebrate because of that death and that resurrected life.  These were, and continue to be, history impacting factors.  You and I as followers of Jesus are the beneficiaries.  Our salvation and our hope of glory are only possible because of them.

              While the official holidays are passed for another year, we must not forget, we must continue to remember these events and the price that was paid. Most churches have a regular remembrance time, we call it communion, other names are used in other settings.  It challenges us to remember.  It helps but its not enough!

              In Paul’s description of the first communion, he quotes Jesus as saying: “Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.”  Don’t let the events of that first communion, the events of that first Easter season fade into oblivion.  Remember them! Remember them in your regular prayers by thanking and praising God for his love and grace demonstrated in that first Easter season.       

Pastor Dave