1. Resurrection

Christians often self-describe as a resurrection people. But what does that mean? For me, the meaning is manifold. Suffering and sadness are not “conquered.” Suffering and sadness are a part of living, and something that Jesus experienced during his life here on earth. Resurrection does not negate Jesus’ pain and suffering on the cross. If we thought that way, then everything pre-crucifixion, including Jesus’ life and ministry, wouldn’t matter. For me, resurrection is an ongoing phenomenon. We are consistently dying to old ways, shedding parts of ourselves that are tormented by pain and suffering, accepting it as a part of our journey and coming to resurrection once again. The cycle repeats, as this is not a “one and done” event. For me, the question always is: Is it now time for me to have a resurrection moment?

2. Conquering death

Just above, I talked about suffering and sadness not being “conquered.” And that’s true. What’s also true is that ultimately death is conquered. Death does not have the last say, and the resurrection cycle doesn’t end at death. There is hope for new life, even when we feel we are at the door of spiritual or emotional death. There is always a new chapter to be had until we reach the end of our lives. Our resurrection is testament to our resilience, which is modeled to us through Christ.

3. New life

Coming into resurrection means coming into new life. For me, that means metanoia, or a transformation. Suffering doesn’t always have a purpose, or is a consequence of something, or meant to teach us a lesson. Suffering “is.” And when we can come through suffering, it usually takes a whole community to do so. What’s on the other side is seeing the world as though the veil of pain were lifted. For anyone who has gone through something serious, it colors our worldview. New life, for me, means that everything is brighter. Resurrection, in essence, lifts the veil, leading to a more complete picture of the newness around us.

4. Testimony

The Gospel of John teaches us that Mary Magdalene was the first evangelist, because she witnessed the risen Christ and then told “the boys” (my word for the disciples). Part of extending and receiving hope is sharing our testimony. I know testimony is a loaded term; I mean it in terms of sharing our story. Storytelling in churches is  a powerful event. Pain and suffering can leave us feeling isolated, cut off and almost like we are a different species than those who walk around seemingly “untouched” by the weight of life. Storytelling leads to hope because it lets us know we are not alone, and storytelling can be a tool to ease the suffering of others. Opening ourselves up in this way is a gift.

5. Easter joy

In the Easter season, there is also joy and celebration. Just as communion has us remembering our baptism, Easter reminds us of coming out of “death.” When we share our resurrection stories, it is my hope that we celebrate them. Even if we are in the midst of our own small “death,” we can find hope in knowing that death is meant to be conquered and that it is not the end. Celebrating the hope in new life can serve as a beacon to each one of us: After Good Friday, Easter extends well beyond Easter Sunday.