The season of Easter is upon us. We emerge from our Lenten journey and welcome the New Light of Christ into our midst; we welcome the promise of life eternal with Jesus. This hope and promise of Easter is especially poignant for us at this time.
Robert Graham passed from this temporal life to life eternal on 28 March at 12:00 noon. Robert, being not only the oldest member of Immanuel, but the oldest Lutheran in the Montana Synod at 105, demonstrated to us what it means to live faithfully in the promises of Jesus for us. He attended church regularly, was active in civic associations and the life of the community; he enjoyed and participated in the recreation - golf - of God’s creation. He lived his life fully through the blessings of a long and fruitful life, as God granted to him.
We will miss him and all the history he had to offer us. But Jesus grants us the promise, through the Easter resurrection, of life eternal with God in the heavenly realm, sharing the Holy Meal with the communion of saints at the heavenly banquet.
This is the joy, the celebration of Easter, having the promise of sharing the Glory of God with all the saints who have gone before us. This is our hope and this is our promise. This and this alone, is what calls us to live a life on earth, whereby we live the love of Jesus; the love Jesus has for us, that he would die for us, so we may have the promise of life eternal. This is the Good News. This Good News is so joyous we live it, proclaim it, in word and deed.
We give thanks to God by living the Good News, loving God and loving nieghbor; following Jesus as he has taught us through the Gospel and through Holy Scripture.
Thanks be to God!
Alleluia, Christ is Risen!
Christ is Risen indeed, Alleluia!
Thanks be to God!