Spectacular cooks, both of my grandmothers learned to cook and to host huge family gatherings in a time when everything was made from scratch and everything tasted so good.
Easter Sunday was a day when we knew the food would be plentiful, the family would be gathered, fun times would be had and the table would be decorated in the most amazing way. The finest dishes were used. The dessert table nearly buckled under the weight—and, well, we would soon buckle under the weight, as well.
Before the prayer was said and the meal was enjoyed, we would marvel at the glorious centerpiece on the table. The centerpiece was the focal point, with a grand and glorious statue of Christ our Savior, with candles and flowers and the images of life springing forth. The centerpiece was, indeed, a sight of great beauty to behold. Easter calls for the greatest centerpiece of all. In fact, Easter is the greatest centerpiece of them all.
The centerpiece of April and of the entire year for us Christians is always Easter. In fact, it’s the centerpiece of the entire worship life of God’s redeemed people. Easter celebrates the moment when we actually became His redeemed people. Easter is not really about chocolate, games or eggs. It’s about life, new life in Christ.
Easter really is the centerpiece of the Christian faith itself. Don’t get me wrong. I love Christmas—ask anyone at Hosanna if Pastor Paul enjoys Christmas. Their response might be exuberant. But I love Easter in a whole other way.
On Easter, we celebrate Jesus Christ rising up from death to new life again. He had died on the cross to pay the price for all our sins. His death made the payment that redeemed us. He was held in the grip of death itself, and, on the third day, he rose again. Jesus tells us that because He lives, we, too, have new life through faith in Him. We live that new life here and now in His mercy and grace. And we will live eternal life in His heavenly home. Easter is the moment when that new life was secured for us all.
Easter is the centerpiece of this life we live sharing His love, His mercy and His grace with all the world. Join us at Hosanna on Easter morning, and let’s celebrate the beauty of this centerpiece together.
For more information, call (480) 984-1414. Hosanna Lutheran Church is located at 9601 E. Brown Road.