Throughout this community the month of May and early June is a time of transition. There are final concerts, end of year banquets, graduations of all sorts from kindergarten to PHD hoodings. These are days to mark the end of something big, a time to say congratulations and thanks for all that is past, and days to look ahead to what the future might be. It is a time to pause for a moment to celebrate accomplishments and to acknowledge all those who have helped to see that the event has occurred. Transitions such as these are usually filled with more than a little emotion. Often there is much excitement and joy but this can also be tinged with sadness, hints of grief, and maybe even fear or apprehension. While we look forward to what is coming next with anticipation, we are also sad that something has ended. We look back and say goodbye for one last time before heading into the uncertainty of the future. Emotions are high during times of transition. Today in the church we are celebrating the 7th Sunday of Easter. Seven weeks we have had to process and celebrate the joy of Jesus’ Resurrection. In this worship space there are still a few signs of the great news of Easter. The liturgical color is white; the Pascal Candle is still by the pulpit instead of in the back near the baptismal font, we have the tinkly bells. During the liturgy we do not use the confession among other small differences. A week ago I was in our cathedral in Springfield and noticed that they still had flowers around their Pascal Candle. Sister Joan Chittister, the popular Roman Catholic theologian, writes that in her convent there are bowls of raisins on the breakfast table only during Eastertide. Having raisins in the oatmeal for the 50 days is a small reminder of the importance of God’s gift of the Resurrection and the joy that gift brings. For the church, Easter is a season, rather than just one day.
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