Our Work Must Go On

Shortly after the Resurrection ‘experience’ of the Apostles, it was clear there was more work to be done. Instead of ‘just’ sitting around celebrating the Lord’s Resurrection, they realized their purpose. Judas had killed himself, so the Apostles replaced him with Matthias. There was more work to accomplish.

I feel the same way today. We are all exhausted from the intensity of Holy Week and the celebration of Pascha. Even our bodies are suffering the rich foods we have been abstaining from for more than a month. That can’t mean we ‘just’ celebrate Pascha and move on. There is more work to do.

In those days, the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away; and when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaios and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord devoted themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. In those days Peter stood up among the brethren (the company of persons was in all about a hundred and twenty), and said, “Brethren, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David, concerning Judas who was guide to those who arrested Jesus. For he was numbered among us, and was allotted his share in this ministry. “So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us — one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was surnamed Justos, and Matthias. And they prayed and said, “Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show which one of these two thou hast chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside, to go to his own place.” And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was enrolled with the eleven apostles.

Acts 1:12-17, 21-26

It is a long-standing tradition to ‘up our game’ during Great Lent and Holy Week. We prayed more. We attended Church services more. We fasted more, some even for the first time. It would be a shame if all that effort stopped ‘just’ because we were done celebrating Pascha.

Yes! This is a week for celebrating. We do not fast, but we don’t gorge ourselves either. We still pray. We still read our Bibles. We continue the work that we were so committed to during Great Lent and especially Holy Week. We shouldn’t disrespect God by returning to where we were.

So, here is my Pascha challenge. Take at least one practice you ‘started’ during Great Lent and Holy Week and commit to continuing it moving forward. Did you pray more? Keep praying. Just because Christ didn’t return last week, doesn’t mean He won’t return tonight or later this week?

Remember, many of the Holy Week traditions were established to help us prepare for Christ’s return. ‘Just’ because He chose not to return now, doesn’t mean our work is done. The Apostles knew that when they appointed Matthias, and we would do well to remember it also.

Christ is Risen….and happy praying.