In America, we have a tendency to prepare socially and pragmatically for Easter. How can we get ready spiritually? We buy ingredients for a big Easter meal. We prepare a room for family members who are arriving from out of town. We set extra chairs around the table. We buy chocolates and dye Easter eggs. Some families even plan a vacation, because the children have the week off from school. Historically, however, Christians have prepared their souls for Easter. It would be a benefit to us to learn from our spiritual fathers and also prepare ourselves spiritually for Resurrection Sunday. There are typically three elements to the preparation for Easter.
1. The first is fasting. This is usually connected with the season of lent. It is a remembrance of Jesus’ life. Philippians 2 tells us that Christ emptied himself to come to earth to be our Savior. Then Jesus says in Mark 8, “If anyone should come after me, he must deny himself…” When we fast, we are practicing a self-denial that mimics Jesus’ life. Fasting should always be accompanied by regular times of prayer and doing good works for others. I recently wrote an article on fasting for this blog (www.gpprayer.blogspot.com) on April 4.
2. The second habit to prepare for Easter is confession. This is the centerpiece of most worship services on Holy Thursday and Good Friday. We are remembering Christ’s death on the cross and our sin that put him there.
3. The third way to prepare for Easter by sharing our faith with others. The celebration of Easter is primarily about the gospel—that Jesus’ resurrection provides reconciliation with God and eternal life to all believers. Many irreligious people are inclined to go to church on Easter, if someone would invite them. Thus, an appropriate way to prepare for Easter is to invite non-believing friends and family to church.
I invite you to especially prepare for Easter this week through prayer, fasting, confession, and inviting friends to church.
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