Happy Easter! Christ is risen! He is truly risen!
The joy I have experienced so far this Easter is somehow different than Easters past. It is probably the result a combination of things: I've been trying to put God in his rightful first place in my life. I've had varying degrees of success and daily failure, but that, along with this year's gratitude experiment, are helping me be happier in general. The celebration of any holiday with children also has a default joy that can't be found elsewhere. They showed such excitement and delight at Easter baskets, dressing up for church, and hunting for eggs in the backyard. It's hard not to be happy around all that!
While I was nervous to discuss crucifixion and Resurrection with 3- and 5-year-olds, the kids and I did have some good chats about Lent and Easter, and they also survived 4.5 hours of church services in 4 days. Win. Kids are so open to information and they have an innate understanding of God that I wish I had as an adult. They don't seem to be budding theologians, but I do think they "got" that Easter is a big deal.
I've been mildly obsessed with the song "Christ is Risen" by Matt Maher. The version I have on my iPod is little more of an upbeat live version, but the studio version is good, too. I watched at least 6 different YouTube videos for you. AND I figured out how to embed one here. You're welcome.
My favorite part in the song is when he says:
So, even though I'm mad that the kids broke their brand new Easter umbrellas already, still joy! Happy Easter! We're looking forward to keeping the party going throughout the octave and all the way to Pentecost.
The joy I have experienced so far this Easter is somehow different than Easters past. It is probably the result a combination of things: I've been trying to put God in his rightful first place in my life. I've had varying degrees of success and daily failure, but that, along with this year's gratitude experiment, are helping me be happier in general. The celebration of any holiday with children also has a default joy that can't be found elsewhere. They showed such excitement and delight at Easter baskets, dressing up for church, and hunting for eggs in the backyard. It's hard not to be happy around all that!
While I was nervous to discuss crucifixion and Resurrection with 3- and 5-year-olds, the kids and I did have some good chats about Lent and Easter, and they also survived 4.5 hours of church services in 4 days. Win. Kids are so open to information and they have an innate understanding of God that I wish I had as an adult. They don't seem to be budding theologians, but I do think they "got" that Easter is a big deal.
I've been mildly obsessed with the song "Christ is Risen" by Matt Maher. The version I have on my iPod is little more of an upbeat live version, but the studio version is good, too. I watched at least 6 different YouTube videos for you. AND I figured out how to embed one here. You're welcome.
My favorite part in the song is when he says:
O death, where is your sting?
O hell, where is your victory?
O church, come stand in the light
Our God is not dead,
He's alive! He's alive!
That comes, in part, from an Easter homily by St. John Chrysostom (who quotes 1 Cor 15), which you can read over at This Ain't The Lyceum. Isn't that so powerful? O death, where is your sting? O hell, where is your victory? Wow.
There's also this beauty from one of my favorite Etsy shops, Hatch Prints. (Etsy, I love you.) I haven't ordered it but I probably will because it makes my heart flutter.
We took in Holy Thursday and Easter morning Masses at our parish, and visited a smaller parish that we also love for Good Friday. It was a great joy to participate with our priest in his first Triduum as a priest. His passion for souls just blows me away and inspires me greatly. It would serve you well to listen to his Easter homily here.
So, even though I'm mad that the kids broke their brand new Easter umbrellas already, still joy! Happy Easter! We're looking forward to keeping the party going throughout the octave and all the way to Pentecost.
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