Celebration
We are in the season of Easter. When you think of this season you think of new life springing forth not only through the resurrection of Jesus but also in the renewing of life in spring. The dead trees are bringing new foliage, and flowers we thought were long gone begin to break through the ground with color that any artist wishes he could paint with. Though Christmas is a important and meaningful time of celebration, it is Easter that sets us apart from all other faiths. It is the foundation of the gospel. It is our reason for hope. It is our reason to celebrate!
And celebrate we will. This month’s Spiritual Focus is on Celebration. We have narrowed this subject down to celebration of creation and the resurrection.
History and Biblical Basis
Throughout the Old Testament the Hebrews were told to set aside certain days for feasts or celebrations such as Passover or the feast of the Tabernacle. After the resurrection the followers of Jesus regularly attended the Temple worship but they also met on the first day of the week, the day Christ rose from the dead, to celebrate the resurrection.
The Church has always set aside days and seasons for remembering and to celebrate God’s work in the world and in the lives of his people. We celebrate not only Christmas, remembering God giving His son, Easter and the resurrection but also some of those of the “cloud of witness” that God used in unique ways such as St. Patrick or St. Francis of Assisi.
The way of Christ is celebration. The angels announced His birth as “good news of great joy.” When He began His ministry he proclaimed a year of Jubilee, when all debts where canceled, slaves where released, and sold property was returned to the original owner. God was demonstrating his gracious provision to his people. Jesus’ first miracle was at a celebration, a wedding.
Often in our Christian societies we lack celebration. We somehow feel that Christians must always remain serious. We can’t smile, and far be it for us to “loose it” in laughter. Harvey Cox said, “man is so hard toward useful work and rational calculations he has all but forgotten the joy of ecstatic celebration."
However in John 15 Jesus says to his disciples, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." Jesus desires that we have joy and that it be complete and full.
Celebration produces joy and joy brings strength. “The joy of the Lord is my strength.” Nehemiah 8:10. In Gal 5:22 joy is identified as one of the fruits of the Spirit which we are to cultivate and nurture under the direction of the Holy Spirit. Joy produces not only strength but energy and that energy hedges against other spiritual disciplines from becoming boring, dull and lifeless.
Joy is a great substitute for anxiety. "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:4-6. When we are rejoicing it is difficult to think about our worries.