It started in the quiet of the early morning. Luke says the women rose “at early dawn” (Luke 24:1). The sun was barely stretching, the sky not yet pink. They weren’t expecting angels or miracles. They were expecting death. Their arms carried spices. Their hearts carried grief.
The stone was supposed to be heavy. But it had been rolled away.
And the tomb?
Empty.
Let that sink in.
The one who was mocked, murdered, and buried had walked out. And He didn’t just leave behind a hollow space—He left behind every reason we’ve ever had to fear the dark. Because of that morning, sin doesn’t get the last word. Neither does cancer. Neither does regret. Neither does death.
Jesus Christ is alive.
And that one truth—if you really take it in—is more than enough to restart your life.
The Problem with Sunday-Only Faith
Most of us love Easter. We show up in our best. We take family pictures. We sing with gusto. We maybe even cry a little. And that’s good. But the resurrection wasn’t meant to be a one-day event on our calendar.
It was meant to be a new way of living.
See, resurrection life doesn’t just ask you to believe something. It invites you to become someone—someone different. Someone alive. Not just spiritually awake for an hour on Sunday. But wide-eyed, hope-filled, and love-driven every single day of the week.
The problem? For too many of us, we’ve trained our faith to sit quietly in the pew, then stay there while we go out for brunch.
We’re busy.
We’re distracted.
We’re tired.
And faith becomes a box we check instead of a life we live. But friend, Jesus didn’t rise from the dead so we could go back to the same old habits, the same old distance, the same old emptiness.
He rose so we could rise with Him. Every day.
The Gift of Ritual
Now, let’s talk about a word that gets a bad rap: ritual.
Some folks hear “ritual” and think of dry routines, empty motions, maybe even boredom. But Jesus doesn’t see it that way. He grew up practicing rhythms—prayers, meals, Scripture, synagogue. He didn’t despise them. He embraced them. And through Him, they became life-giving.
Think of rituals like scaffolding. They’re not the building, but they help shape it. They hold you up when life gets wobbly. They remind your soul what your brain keeps forgetting: You belong to the risen Lord.
So what are some resurrection-shaped rituals?
- Praying together as a couple or family, even if it’s brief
- Giving thanks before or after meals
- Reading a short Scripture devotion before bedtime or first thing in the morning.
- Taking a prayer walk through the neighborhood
- Saying a quiet prayer when you pass someone hurting
These aren’t hoops to jump through. They’re handrails. They don’t save us—but they help us remember the One who did.
And when these rituals are rooted in grace, they don’t make your life rigid. They make it ready—ready to recognize Jesus,ready to act, just like those two disciples on the road to Emmaus who finally saw Him when He broke the bread.
Resurrection Sunday is an Invitation
Easter morning isn’t just a celebration. It’s an invitation. An invitation to restart. To recommit. To reawaken the life God placed in you.
You don’t need to have it all together.
You just need to show up.
Jesus specializes in meeting people who are unsure, exhausted, or running on empty. He walked out of the tomb not to scold His disciples but to meet them. To call them by name. To walk alongside them again.
And He still does.
That’s why we’d love to see you this Easter Sunday at 10:00 AM at West County Lutheran Church.
Come as you are. Come with your questions, your pain, your hopes. There’s room in the story for you.
And if it’s been a while since you’ve stepped into church—or if you’ve never really believed Easter could matter in your life—this might be the Sunday to start again.
Living the Resurrection: Five Faith Practices
One of the most helpful ways I’ve found to live this resurrected life comes from a friend and fellow pastor, Greg Finke. He names five simple, practical faith practices that help us carry the joy of Easter into everyday life. These aren’t programs. They’re postures—ways to join Jesus in what He’s already doing:
1. Seek the Kingdom
Ask this question regularly: Where do I see God already at work around me? That co-worker who’s been extra quiet. That neighbor who lingers by the mailbox. That grandchild asking big questions. God’s Kingdom is near—you don’t have to bring it. Just notice it.
2. Hear from Jesus
Open your Bible this week—even if it’s just one story a day from Luke 24. Ask, What is Jesus showing me about Himself? You don’t need a theology degree. Just start with curiosity and trust that He’ll speak.
3. Talk with People
Not preach. Not pressure. Just talk. Real conversations over coffee. Texts that check in. Eye contact that says, I see you. These are sacred. Jesus works through them more often than you think.
4. Do Good
Look for one simple act of kindness each day. Hold the door. Leave an encouraging note. Offer to help. The resurrection power of Jesus often shows up in the smallest gestures.
5. Minister through Prayer
You don’t need fancy words. Just ask someone, “Can I say a quick prayer for you?” It’s surprising how many people will say yes. You don’t need to fix their life. Just bring it to the One who can.
Because He’s Still Walking With Us
Luke’s Gospel tells us that the women ran to tell the others. Peter sprinted to see it for himself. The disciples talked about it while on the road to Emmaus. Remember those two? They initially didn’t recognize Jesus, but once he invited them in for a meal and bread, they saw that it was him, and they began running to share the good news because they had an experience with Jesus. This is true for us as well. You may have never had a direct vision of Jesus. Still, everyone who claims the name Christian is a qualified witness to be an everyday missionary, and that, my friends, I can tell you, is where truly satisfying and abundant life comes from.
See you this Sunday, and in the mission field of St. Louis.
Pastor Mark
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