Commentary: “Unveiling Easter: Rediscovering the True Essence Beyond Rituals and Traditions”

Have we lost the real meaning of the celebration of Easter? Yes, I know Easter is not a commanded celebration in the Bible. There is evidence, however, that the early Christians celebrated the Lord’s Supper and the Resurrection on the first day of the week—and probably more often. The Lord’s Supper name comes from the passage in 1 Corinthians where Paul describes it.  The Lord’s Supper was called the Eucharist- Latin for Thanksgiving—in the Didache  as early as 120 C.E.   We also call it Communion.

Jewish Christians celebrated both the Sabbath and later the Lord’s Supper on the first day of the week. Gentile Christians only celebrated the Lord’s Supper.  Jews continued the celebration of the Passover.  It wasn’t until the late second century that a specific yearly celebration feast was held that was called Easter.  It was thought the Passover eventually passed into the Easter celebration. At the Council of Nicaea in 315 a final date was established for observing Easter.

What really should Easter be about? All Christians should be pleased that some in the world recognize a day of the Resurrection of Christ.  Many fundamentalist Christians do this every Sunday with partaking of the Lord’s Supper or Communion.  I fear for some congregations this celebration has become a perfunctory event with a tiny piece of cracker and a little sip of grape juice.  How sad.

The Lord’s supper is the culmination on earth of God’s redemptive story beginning in Genesis, with the promises to the prophets, to the Exodus to the crucifixion and then the Resurrection of Christ. It is the continuation of the Passover story of the Exodus.  Just as the Jews tell the story of the Exodus in the Passover meal observance, Christians should do the same for the story of the Resurrection.  Early Christians until late second century always had a meal of celebration while observing the Lord’s Supper.  Indeed, in 1 Corinthians Paul says after the bread offering was observed then “supper.” Specifically, it was “after Supper,” that the wine offering was done.  The Lord’s Supper and the meal was the center of their Sunday morning worship.

Instead, in most Sunday gatherings, the two primary focus events are the singing ( with or without a praise team) and the “preaching.” When done at all, little time is provided to tell the Story of Redemption that the Lord’s Supper is all about.

Though none of this is found in the bible, Catholics have a much richer tradition in celebration of the Resurrection of Christ.  Over the centuries they have developed the following: Lent, Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday Night-Easter Vigil, and finally Easter Sunday.  In addition, each Catholic in good standing can partake of the Eucharist each day.

Perhaps they, more than we, have discovered the true essence of the Resurrection of Christ—at least in celebration of the event.

The Easter Homily of St. John Chrysostom

• If any man be devout and loveth God,
  Let him enjoy this fair and radiant triumphal feast!
  If any man be a wise servant,
  Let him rejoicing enter into the joy of his Lord.
  If any have laboured long in fasting,
  Let him how receive his recompense.
  If any have wrought from the first hour,
  Let him today receive his just reward.
  If any have come at the third hour,
  Let him with thankfulness keep the feast.
  If any have arrived at the sixth hour,
  Let him have no misgivings;
  Because he shall in nowise be deprived therefore.
  If any have delayed until the ninth hour,
  Let him draw near, fearing nothing.
  And if any have tarried even until the eleventh hour,
  Let him, also, be not alarmed at his tardiness.
  For the Lord, who is jealous of his honour,
  Will accept the last even as the first.
  He giveth rest unto him who cometh at the eleventh hour,
  Even as unto him who hath wrought from the first hour.
  And He showeth mercy upon the last,
  And careth for the first;
  And to the one He giveth,
  And upon the other He bestoweth gifts.
  And He both accepteth the deeds,
  And welcometh the intention,
  And honoureth the acts and praises the offering.
  Wherefore, enter ye all into the joy of your Lord;
  Receive your reward,
  Both the first, and likewise the second.
  You rich and poor together, hold high festival!
  You sober and you heedless, honour the day!
  Rejoice today, both you who have fasted
  And you who have disregarded the fast.
  The table is full-laden; feast ye all sumptuously.
  The calf is fatted; let no one go hungry away.
  Enjoy ye all the feast of faith:
  Receive ye all the riches of loving-kindness.
  Let no one bewail his poverty,
  For the universal Kingdom has been revealed.
  Let no one weep for his iniquities,
  For pardon has shown forth from the grave.
  Let no one fear death,
  For the Saviour’s death has set us free.
  He that was held prisoner of it has annihilated it.
  By descending into Hell, He made Hell captive.
  He embittered it when it tasted of His flesh.
  And Isaiah, foretelling this, did cry:
  Hell, said he, was embittered
  When it encountered Thee in the lower regions.
  It was embittered, for it was abolished.
  It was embittered, for it was mocked.
  It was embittered, for it was slain.
  It was embittered, for it was overthrown.
  It was embittered, for it was fettered in chains.
  It took a body, and met God face to face.
  It took earth, and encountered Heaven.
  It took that which was seen, and fell upon the unseen.
  O Death, where is thy sting?
  O Hell, where is thy victory?
  Christ is risen, and thou art overthrown!
  Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen!
  Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice!
  Christ is risen, and life reigns!
  Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in the grave.
  For Christ, being risen from the dead,
  Is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.
  To Him be glory and dominion
  Unto ages of ages.