The somber season of Lent seems to last forever (40 days, not counting the six Sundays), but the joyful season of Easter lasts even longer (49 days). Eastertide, or the Easter Season commemorates the 40 days that the risen Christ remained on earth:
He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. (Acts 1:3)
Then comes His ascension, also considered part of Easter, and a total of nine more days when He is at the right hand of the Father. The fiftieth day after His resurrection is Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was poured out upon His Church, beginning a new season, the time of the Church.
I hadn’t realized that Jesus remained so long after His resurrection from the dead, appearing to His disciples quite often and continuing to teach them.
And it’s fitting that the time of joy should be longer than the time of sorrow.
I suppose the Lenten disciplines, though, are easier to keep and to remember. We need disciplines of joy too.
At any rate, have a blessed continuing Easter!
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In