Holy Week Finale: Easter!

Sunday, April 4, 2010, 6 AM

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.’ Then they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest.

Luke 24: 1-9

6 AM

In the darkness of early morning, we carefully made our way across the grounds of the Augusta Victoria Hospital campus to a stone altar that was already glowing with the light of small tea candles. Our Redeemer Lutheran English Congregation choir did a quick warm up as we prepared to sing at the special Mount of Olives sunrise service. And what a beautiful service it was—the prayers and songs of Easter morning rising up along with the sun, as we gazed out over the Jordanian desert. Like the women who discovered with awe the empty tomb, we rediscovered and remembered the resurrection along with them in the glowing Jerusalem dawn. Easter is a time of great hope—a hope that we must cling to. We must believe that after the “Fridays” of this world-poverty, occupation, racism, abuse, exploitation, war, hunger, disease, injustice, and death something awaits on Sunday morning. Life and love- the promises of Easter.

9 AM

After a delicious Easter brunch on the Mount of Olives, we headed down into the Old City for another church service, this time a joint service between the English and Arabic congregations. I was glad to have the opportunity to celebrate Easter with the local community here that I have frequently worshipped with over the past eight months. Even though we sing and pray in different languages, our belief and proclamation is shared. Christ is Risen! Al Masih Qam!

7 PM

Later that evening we had a special meal with our English-speaking congregational community at the Brown’s home up on the Mount of Olives. Believe it or not, in a predominantly Muslim and Jewish place, we even managed to have ham for Easter dinner! The Redeemer Lutheran community has truly been a unique and special support for me throughout this year. Especially around the holidays, when I feel especially separated from the normal rhythms of celebrations at home, it forms its own eclectic family of sorts to do what families do— share food and conversation, and support one another. It has been a blessing, and one that I know I will miss when I leave in a few short months.