Easter

Easter (“Pasch”) Season: Vision, Commission, Mission 

by David Morrison

In the Scriptures, when people experienced an encounter with God (a vision), they were left with a divine commission (a command). This resulted in a change of life that made an impact on the surrounding community-a mission. The prophet Isaiah “saw” (vision) the Lord enthroned on high. The Lord asked, “Whom shall we send?” (commission), and after having his lips touched with the burning coal, Isaiah was told to “go” (mission) prophesy to Israel  like he had never done before. (Isaiah 6:1-9).
In all of the Gospel accounts, the disciples were filled with great joy after they “saw” (vision) the Lord alive in the flesh. After His resurrection, the Lord remained with them for forty days until He ascended to heaven. He then commanded them (commission) to “make disciples” (Mt. 28:19) and to “preach the gospel” (Mk. 16:15) in the power of the Holy Spirit (Lk. 24:49). Ten days after Jesus’ ascension, on the Feast of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit endued them with power, and they set out to fulfill this command (mission) as told in the story of Acts.
     “Our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us celebrate the feast” (1Cor 5:6-8). In the pattern of the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit invites the church to celebrate our Lord’s resurrection for fifty days so that like the disciples, we too may encounter in our hearts, a vision of the risen Jesus who will renew his commission on our lives. As a result of this contemplative celebration, our mission of proclaiming and demonstrating the Gospel of the Kingdom are inflamed by a new Pentecost of the Holy Spirit’s power.  “God our Father…let our celebration today raise us up and renew our lives by the Spirit that is within us” (Opening Prayer for Easter).