Festival days can be miserable days. Periods of celebration for some people almost always are times of depression for other people. The more some folks laugh, the louder other people weep. Times set aside for rejoicing can become terribly troubling.
Rereading the resurrection stories in the gospels with this reality in mind, I was surprised to find there what we experience here. The ancient biblical narratives about the resurrection of Jesus contain a mixture of ecstasy and despondency, an intermingling of delight and discouragement. Just as news of Christ's resurrection caused an explosion of joy among some believers, other believers experienced an erosion of hope. Luke tells us that on the very day of the resurrection, as word of Christ's presence swept through Jerusalem, two downcast disciples of Jesus headed toward Emmaus to forget the whole matter.
Easter came and some folks missed it. It happened in Jerusalem. It happens where we live. It happens every year. Christ arose and not even all of his former followers realized his presence. Some people always miss Easter.
What about you? For whatever reason, did you miss Easter this year? Please don't misunderstand my questions. I am not asking if you were present in or absent from a service of corporate worship on Easter Sunday. My concern is an experience with the resurrection. We do not have to be "out of church" on Easter Sunday to miss Easter just as people did not have to be out of Jerusalem to miss the risen Christ. Maybe you were in a worship service and you saw the joy around you but did not sense any joy within you. Perhaps you heard hallelujahs resound in a sanctuary but realized they found no resonance in your heart. Maybe you listened to the reading of the resurrection stories failing to find their meaning for your life. Some of us may identify with a Nikos Kazantzakis' character who exclaimed, "God forgive me . . . this year . . . I have not felt Christ rise."

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