Easter Traditions

Most of the popular associations with Easter come from pagan traditions rather than Christian. However, traditionally, the church has taken these pagan elements and "converted" them to convey Christian principles. In Christian tradition, the egg is often used as an analogy to the trinity and to signify the resurrection life promised to us by Christ's resurrection. Butterflies are indicators of spring and new life, but Christians often use the butterfly as a symbol of the resurrection. Just as the caterpillar "dies," is "buried" in his cocoon, and then emerges in a "new body" somehow made from the old body and with "new life," so Jesus died, was buried, and was resurrected and we who belong to Him will also be.

Christians used hiding-and-finding eggs as a teaching tool to children that we have been "hidden" from God's loving presence by our sins, but we are "found" by Christ, who forgives us, loves us, and treasures us. It can also signify the diligence with which we seek the kingdom of God and our joy in finding it. In Christianity, with Lambs, we remember that we are His sheep, and He is our Shepherd. Also, Christ is the Passover Lamb, the sacrifice that cleanses all from sin by His blood.

So I hope you have a fresh sense of all we will experience during this Lenten season together.

See you on Sunday,

Misty