Is Easter A Happy Or Sad Holiday?

The story behind Easter, in the New Testament, tells the story of Jesus being arrested by the Roman authorities for claiming to be the Son of God and later being crucified. His resurrection three days later marked the coming of Easter.

Easter is a Christian holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This year the holiday falls on April 21 and is celebrated across the globe. According to the New Testament, Easter occurred three days after Jesus was crucified on the cross by the Romans. Easter concludes the “Passion of Christ,” beginning with the 40-day period of fasting (Lent) and ending with Holy Week. Holy Thursday (the celebration of Jesus' Last Supper) and Good Friday are part of Holy Week, which ends on Easter Sunday.

St. John Chrysostom, a saint revered by the Eastern and Western Churches, said "Whether you are the first or the last, you will receive your reward; rich and poor alike! Sober and lazy, celebrate this day! Those who observe the fast Everyone, and those who are not fasting, should rejoice today because the table is filled with rich food! Enjoy, the calf is a fat cow. Let no one leave hungry. Come and share for all Cup of faith. Enjoy the riches of all His goodness! Let no one grieve because of his poverty, for the universal Kingdom has been revealed. Let no one grieve for his repeated falls; for forgiveness has risen from the grave rise."

“Forgiveness has risen from the grave,” so it is celebrated “by both those who fast and those who do not fast.” All of us: those of us who don’t do well during Lent. Those of us who grit our teeth and hold on to our resolve with silent grumbles. Those of us who sacrifice with a prayerful soul and a smile.

St. Chrysostom reminds us that we are all invited to this feast: the lazy and the virtuous, the sober and the slothful, the rich and the poor.

In another part of the same sermon, he quoted that great parable that so depresses Americans. This is the story of vineyard workers who show up at different times of the day but are all paid the same at the end of the day. Boy, does this frost our Puritan cupcakes.

St. Chrysostom said that Easter is the same reward for all of us. Lent is a wonderful discipline and a way to remind us of the Lord’s suffering and sacrifice for us. But that sacrifice has been made for us, and now in this glorious Easter season we can celebrate that He has truly risen and that death has been defeated.

If I may propose an Easter resolution: Let’s not let Easter be forgotten in a flash. We spent 40 days in the desert during Lent. Now let us enjoy the 40 days of joy as they do on the Feast of St. Chrysostom.

Unwrap a Cadbury egg! Celebrate with something special! Give thanks for the blessings of the greatest feast day in the Church calendar.

There will be other Lent seasons. There is only one Easter event. Let us remind this tortured old world that there is a happy ending.