I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live…

John 11:25

The question to ponder is this: To what do we wake up?

Elisabeth Kubler-Ross wrote that when she visited concentration camps in post-World War II Germany, what she found on the barrack walls were images of butterflies or night moths breaking free of their chrysalises. Over and over again in the midst of fear and evil was this symbol of the soul’s transition.

At Christmas, it is “Arise, Shine, for your light has come! Today it is Arise, Church, for Christ is risen from the dead! We arise to new life and new dreams. Arise, church.

So, it is a new day! Look to the Scriptures and let them speak to your new life. In John’s text, Jesus calls Mary’s name and in her grief, she hears and recognizes that Jesus is risen and is standing before her. Today, Jesus speaks to each of us.

What is Jesus saying to you? This is a wake-up call to end all others. Easter morning is an annual wake-up call addressed to Christ's own body, the church…and to each of us. It has been a difficult year with a pandemic and all that has brought. But this Easter, we have new hope. As Jesus rises for all of us, let us arise! Let us break out of our chrysalis and fly into new life, free from sin and the fear of death. A new and bright future awaits us. Alleluia! He is risen! He is risen indeed! Amen.

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