In a reflection upon the meaning of Easter and the impact Jesus’ resurrection should have on believers, the great Christian apologist and writer, C.S. Lewis once recounted the story of a very small and very devout boy who was eager for Easter and the season of joy it would inaugurate. The young boy was heard murmuring what must have been a poem of his own making, it began: “chocolate eggs and Jesus risen...”
Lewis suggested that for a boy of his age the poem showed a commendable piety and he also noted that the time would come when the child could distinguish the spiritual reality of Easter from the popular festivities which surround the holiday; then he must choose which aspect of feast will be his focus. If he puts the spiritual first, he shall still taste something of Easter in the chocolate eggs. However, if he puts the eggs first, they will soon be nothing more than candy. They will have taken on independent and therefore, a fleeting significance.
While the early Christians did not yet enjoy the luxury of chocolate eggs, they did, nevertheless have to grapple with the significance of Easter. Was it indeed a spiritual reality that had forever altered the world’s understanding of death? Was it an event that would forever influence the manner they lived their lives, their relationship with God and with one another? Would it become the focus of their still developing faith and the foundation of a faith filled hope? Or would they forever stagnate in the spectacular but safe trappings of Easter----the empty tomb, the stone that was rolled away and the burial cloths?
Lewis suggests that to remain with the mere trappings of Easter is to prefer the chocolate eggs over Jesus risen. Choosing Jesus risen required that the early Christians leave the tomb behind in order to bring the spiritual reality of this resurrection into every aspect of human existence. These early Christians had to align themselves with what Saint Paul so vigorously declares: “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.”
Easter calls us to celebrate the fact that the light of Christ has come into the darkness of our world providing us with hope for a future greater than we dare to believe. It challenges us to share a kind of living that goes beyond worldly expectation and limitations, beyond the empty tomb of Easter Sunday to the deeper meaning of our life in the risen Christ. As we ponder C.S. Lewis’ reflections these days before Easter, we should consider whether this Easter our hearts and minds will truly be focused upon the worldly trappings of chocolate eggs or rather upon the great mystery of our faith - Jesus risen from the dead. Have our efforts and energies in prayer and fasting over the forty days of Lent been driven by the trappings of the worldly Easter with the egg hunts, the shopping for new clothes, the spring cleaning, the rice pies and the honeyed hams? Or as a people of Christian faith are we to stand in truth before the mystery of the resurrection and allow it to impact our every thought, word and deed and truly give meaning to our lives?
Chocolate eggs or Jesus risen? Is our celebration of Easter to be about the temporary gratification of worldly desires or the power of the resurrection and everlasting life? This Easter may we choose Jesus risen. For Christ is Risen, Alleluia! He is Risen indeed! Happy Easter!
