Today is the Highest Holy Day in all of Christendom.  I chose this picture to reflect the absence of Christ on the cross.  After all, that’s what this day is about.  Jesus died for our sins by suffering death upon a cross, was buried, and ascended into heaven where He lives and reigns in union with the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  This is the Good Shepherd altar on the side of our main sanctuary.  I love that the Church is rife with symbolism.  Beneath the altar cross you can see on the left is an “A” and on the right, an “O”.  These are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet.  Jesus says in the last book of the Bible, Revelation, chapter 22 verse 13:  “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”  Also, notice the altar color is white.  When the women came to the tomb to annoint Jesus’ body they found the stone had been rolled away and it was empty.  Angels in dazzling white clothing told them Christ had risen from the dead.  White also represents that Jesus has washed our sins away with His sacrifice and that we are made white as snow.  The vestments and altars will remain white for the next 50 days, as Easter is not simply a day but a season in the church.  There is a beautiful Gregorian chant inspired by Saint Paul’s letter to the Philippians (2:8-9) which says:

Christus factus est pro nobis obediens usque ad mortem, ad mortem autem cruces.  Propter quod et dues exaltavit illum, et dedit illi nomen, quod est super omne nomen.  

It translates:  Christ was made obedient even to death, death on the cross.  God therefore exalted him and gave him a name excelling all others.  

These 50 days of Easter ask us to reflect on His presence and to be filled with joy knowing the risen savior is still with us, that God has not abandoned us; nor will He ever forsake us.  So, with the Paschal greeting, Christians rejoice!  Christ is risen!  Christ is risen indeed!  Hallelujah!  Hallelujah!