Dawn's Light

"Christ, who is only sinless, reconciles sinners to the Father. Death and Life have contended in that combat stupendous:
The Prince of Life, who died, reigns immortal. Speak, Mary, declaring what you saw, wayfaring.
'The tomb of Christ, who is living, the glory of Jesus' resurrection; bright angels attesting, the shroud and napkin resting.
Yes, Christ is my hope arisen;
to Galilee He goes before you.'
 Christ indeed from death is risen, our new life obtaining.
Have mercy, Victor King, ever reigning!" -- [Victimae Paschali Laudes].


There is absolutely nothing like Easter morning. Even Christmas morning does not compare. Even with all those sparkling gifts under the Christmas tree, it does not compare.

For on Easter, we receive the greatest gift of all, the gift of Jesus' sacrifice for us. A gift that no money or worldly wealth can buy.

When I was a young adult, in my early twenties and away at university, I remember once staying up all night. I did not do this on purpose. Long after the party was over, the drinks and food consumed, a small group of us sat closely together and talked for hours.

Back in the day, we used to call this a "bull session." " A rap session". "Consciousness raising".

We talked about world peace, pollution, women's issues (then called "women's liberation"), civil rights, the utility of the political system or lack thereof.  [Today, kids may stay up all night, but it seems that they spend the time on electronic devices, in what passes for social interaction . . . ]

I am sure that we did not solve all the world's problems that night. We even argued somewhat over what was "right".

Suddenly, someone noticed that it was SO late, that it was "early." The group broke up.

By the time I got back to my apartment parking lot, daylight was beginning to break. I glanced over at the horizon, and saw a pale yellow stripe of light, where the horizon met the earth. It was the dawn!

I could not just pull out my apartment keys and run inside. I was spellbound. I watched the sun rise. I was in awe. We had made it through the night, and all the world's problems were still there. But the dawning light gave me such a thrilling sense of hope. That everything was possible.

In a secular sense, yes, the dawn is amazing.

But, for me as a Christian, Easter is that metaphysical Dawn-- yes -- but ten times or a hundred times more miraculous.

Easter means that God always has the last word.

Easter means that the darkness cannot win. It is like that moment in Genesis when God said, "Let there be Light", and the Light drove away the darkness and the void and the formlessness that was the world before.  I get a chill every time I read that!

"For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God's glory displayed in the face of Christ." --[ 2 Corinthians 4:6].

Easter means that God, after sending priests and judges and prophets to draw His people closer to Him, finally sent His only Son to teach us about His Love and Mercy. And when the world rejected His Son, Jesus' sacrifice ultimately drew us together into one Christian family.

Easter is the promise that no matter how hard is our road in life, God and Jesus are always there with us.

I imagine that for a secular person, the dawn is like living through a long night with no electric power, and experiencing a sense of relief when the lights come back on.

But, for a Christian, the Dawn is the banishment of darkness, when we experience the tender and awe-struck sense of Hope. Easter is "The Prince of Life, who died, reigning immortal."

The Dawn-- Jesus' Resurrection-- is nothing short of a miracle.

[Related Postings:  "Transforming Hope", Mar. 3, 2105; "Roll Away The Stone", April 17, 2014;  "His Pierced Heart", April 14, 2014; "Easter Redemption", April 7, 2012.]

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