D.L.

It brings me back to what really matters. For me, it is not just a social, religious event; it has nothing to do with religion but much to do with a social event.
Yes, the events of Easter did take place within a religious context, and yes, Jesus was sentenced to death by a religious community to which he even belonged. But this does not mean that what we remember is religious.
Jesus was very critical of his own religious context; if you have any doubts, please read Matthew 23!
The death by crucifixion was so terrifying that it created a sickening expectable only compared today with this morbid desire to watch YouTube videos of terrible disasters, where everything is exposed. No wonder now news programmes warn their viewers before showing the video clip.

I once worked on a news programme for a Chilean television station, and sometimes, I was asked to edit a section of international news that featured a terrible bomb that went off. It was never edited; it was raw footage, and I was to edit it. I saw heartbreaking images that broke me and made me cold and immune in time—well, that is what I thought! It affected me.

I guess the Roman soldiers and many of the people who came to watch the crucifixion of Jesus were somehow cold, even insensitive, but it was worth watching! This is why I believe it was a social event. The whole city was invited to watch it live. It was recorded; we have four written accounts of it.
Easter breaks away from religion because the death of Jesus is more significant than that. It is not bound, restricted, silenced, or mysterious. It is done in the open air, where everyone can participate by viewing it. Some who were close to Jesus heard his agony and struggle to breathe, and when he spoke and was heard, his words were passed from the front row to the very end.
Can you imagine the impact of Jesus’ words echoing in the crowd:

“Father, forgive them” – “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me”? – “Father into your hands, I entrust my spirit”.

I would like to believe that these words cut deep in some standing there, just like the Roman guard who said, “Surely this was the Son of God”. He was brought into a place of conviction, reflection, and the need to be forgiven, and suddenly, the social gathering, the spectacle that everyone came to see, became silent, only to wake up by a tremor that shook the earth because creation understood that the creator was coming to restore all things.

Easter centres me, stops me, makes me thankful, and makes me human.

Then Jesus died, and everyone went home. He was taken off the cross, lovingly wrapped, and placed inside a tomb guarded by Roman soldiers because he was considered dangerous even in death. Jesus said he was returning after three days, and the religious authorities and Roman officers agreed to have a guard there, just in case he appeared! So, the rock that is placed to secure the tomb is massive and heavy and has a Roman seal on it.
It was as if the police would have cordoned off the possible crime scene and asked people not to come closer. So the guards stayed there the whole Friday and Saturday.
Many of the community returned to their normal activities on Friday and were getting ready for the Sabbath. Very much like today!
On Saturday, people go shopping, on holiday, and go to the football match! On Saturday, people were still discussing what they experienced on Friday and wondering what it was all about.

But.

I am confident because although Saturday is an invitation to reflect, I do not wonder. I wait in expectation and anticipation, longing to worship the one who once and for all defeated the power of death.

Sunday is coming, and I once again embrace life as I embrace my family, thankful for the living hope. Then I go to Church, a social faith gathering of people who love him and as we do we join millions worldwide to worship. We gather in the town square at dawn to pray, sing, and listen to this never-ending historical, life-changing retelling of Jesus who has RISEN.

Easter centres me because I am alive again.