Having had weighty conversations with people who knew their death was imminent this year, I was grateful to celebrate Easter by singing "Christ the Lord is Risen Today." The hymn taunts death as it celebrates Jesus' victory over it.
Christians don't pretend that death has lost its earthly sting, but we find encouragement that the sting isn't permanent.
That Easter message is worth celebrating frequently, but sometimes we celebrate victory over death so much that we forget the resurrection has power for those who aren't at the end of their life or grieving those whose lives have ended.
When Jesus showed Mary his compassion at the tomb, he didn't say anything about not having to worry about death anymore. His focus wasn't on death or life after death, but on the present. After showing his interest in Mary he called her to go and tell others about him. She did, saying, "I have seen the Lord."
The resurrection gives us hope for life after death, but it's also about life before death. Knowing that Christ the Lord is risen gives us courage for the living of these days.
The resurrection gives us hope for life after death, but it's also about life before death. Knowing that Christ the Lord is risen gives us courage for the living of these days.