Listen

May the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ be blessed! On account of his vast mercy, he has given us new birth. You have been born anew into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. You have a pure and enduring inheritance that cannot perish—an inheritance that is presently kept safe in heaven for you. Through his faithfulness, you are guarded by God’s power so that you can receive the salvation he is ready to reveal in the last time.

1 Peter 1:3-5

Think

How do we live as if we believe the good news? How do we live into the Easter mystery that tells us that death does not have the final say? The good news of the Easter story is that death and violence don’t have the last word. This is a love-(ultimately)-wins story.

The farmer and writer Wendell Berry wrote a poem about how to live that ends with the words: “practice resurrection.”

“Love the Lord. Love the world. Work for nothing… Love someone who does not deserve it… Ask questions that have no answers… Plant sequoias… Laugh. Be joyful though you have considered all the facts… Practice Resurrection.” (from “Manifesto: The Mad Farmer Liberation Front,” 1973).

What does it mean to practice resurrection in our own lives? What small seeds can we plant now, believing that love ultimately is the most powerful force in the universe?

Daneen Akers

Pray

Resurrecting God, help me practice resurrection in my life every day.

Help me to choose joy.

Help me to find ways to live out the values of love in how I interact with myself, my family, my school, and my community.

Amen.

Go

Like the poet Wendell Berry says, “be joyful though you have considered all the facts.”

Practice resurrection.