From Dying to Rising

“I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us.” — Romans 8:18

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Grace, peace, and Easter blessings to you and your loved ones on this joyous day of Resurrection.

If today doesn’t feel quite right to you, that’s okay. It’s okay to feel a bit unsettled by the idea of celebrating the end of Lent when this whole stay-in-place ordeal — something of an involuntary Lent in its own right — persists even beyond today, Easter Sunday.

I’d be surprised if there’s anyone among us who didn’t feel like this Lent was more burdensome than usual, perhaps more than ever before. If Lent is truly about dying to self — and it certainly is — then I think we can safely check that one off the list this year.

But what about now? Is this day supposed to feel different than the previous 40? What difference does Easter make?

It would be one thing, of course if this coronavirus was simply one big inconvenience. Instead, there is real, widespread suffering and death happening as a result, and not just far away. No, this pandemic in our midst is a problem. There’s no way around it.

And yet, there is hope. There is hope, because of today. Today is Easter, when we remember, when we celebrate, when we put on Christ Crucified, yes, but also Christ Risen from the Dead. We have hope because we know how this story ends, how all of the stories end, for those with faith and hope in Jesus: In death, yes. But then in life.

Let St. Paul’s words ring in your ears and echo in your hearts: these sufferings in the present time will not just dissipate, then eventually cease. No, these sufferings will be blown out of the water by the peace, the joy, the glory that awaits us.

Perhaps the full weight of that glory has not yet been revealed, even on April 12 in the Year of Our Lord 2020 as we celebrate his rising from the dead. Today then, as the sufferings linger, let us fix our gaze even more so the glory that awaits beyond. Our part is to trust that God knows what he is about in these mysterious days of Providence.

On behalf of Fr. Nick, the deacons and parish staff, trustees, and volunteer leaders here at Nativity of Our Lord, we are committed to following Christ as his disciples wherever he leads.

We will continue to work tirelessly to find new ways to nurture a rich sacramental and spiritual life, strengthen communal bonds, grow our children in the faith, and witness evermore to Christ’s love, even within our current limitations.

Together, may we continue to die with Christ, so that together we may rise with him.

— Fr. Patrick Hipwell, Pastor