latin
Easter is my favorite celebration. Some people love Christmas with its glitter, snow and gifts. Some love Thanksgiving with feasts of food, but Easter is about birth, new beginnings and Spring.
The Latin word for spring is “stirps” and for birth, it is “genus”. Ironically, both words have common meanings and refer to offspring, race, family lines. I was so privileged this week to become a grandmother to a beautiful boy named Isaiah. The family line will continue for another generation. It is a new beginning as a family for my son and daughter-in-law and grandson. It is spring and this season is bursting with blooms, blossoms and new life. The sun crosses the equator from south to north and what used to be the beginning of a new year is as innocent as the dawn or a child.
It’s when the sleeping seeds beneath the ground awaken and stretch their arms to break through the earth and touch the sun. Like a baby waking from the womb into the bright world. The birds flit from branches on trees to gather twigs in their beaks to build a nest for their young. The ice on the rivers and lakes crack along the shore to melt into the fresh springs as they thaw. It’s when nature comes alive to warmer days and hopes of new beginnings urge us to escape from our abodes and embrace the days.
Like my grandson, bursting into the world and ready for life, let us rejoice and celebrate our spring. Newness, beginnings, hope for beautiful days ahead. Easter, the celebration of the quintessential person who left the glorious perfection of heaven and came into the world as a helpless babe. He lived a perfect life so he could freely give himself to death on a cross to pay the full penalty for sin, so whoever believes in Him might have eternal life. That’s reason to celebrate because on the third day, He rose again! He is risen indeed! And now He lives in us. New life in Christ everyday.
He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 'The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again. Luke 24:6-7