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The past 40 days of preparation have brought us through the desert of Lent and now give way to the celebration of Easter, as we rejoice with Christians everywhere the resurrection of the Lord. Our days of fasting and quiet give way to the celebration of new life that comes to us through Christ.

The new flowers that decorate the church and are found throughout the complex remind us of the Easter joy we celebrate. In the dark and cold days of a Minnesota winter, there are times when one can wonder if spring will ever return. The snow is falling and the air is so cold it seems there is little chance the earth will ever warm up enough for flowers to grow.

And then, just when you think winter might last another month, Easter comes, and even if it is not warm enough for flowers to grow outside, the world is full of Easter flowers inside.

As we celebrate Easter, we recall Jesus’ reminder to “consider the lilies of the field,” which are arrayed more beautifully than Solomon in all his glory. (Mt 6:29) And even more beautiful than the lilies is the gift of eternal life that is ours because of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. Life can sometimes seem cold and weary, like those long days of winter or the stillness of Lent, but we are to always remember that we who are believers are called to be an Easter people with our eyes turned toward eternal joy in heaven. The earthly flowers will fade and come to an end, but our hope is a life that will never end and it is the joy of that hope that we celebrate this Easter.

I pray that the joy of Easter may remain always in your heart. And know that you and your loved ones will be in my prayers this Easter at St. Olaf.

Christ is Risen, Alleluia!
Fr. Mark Pavlik
Pastor

Easter morn with lilies fair
fills the church with perfumes rare,
As their clouds of incense rise,
sweetest offerings to the skies.
Stately lilies pure and white

flooding darkness with their light,
Gloom and sorrow drifts away,
on this holy hallow'd day.
Easter Lilies bending low
in the golden afterglow,
Bear a message from the sod
to the heavenly towers of God.

-Louise Lewin Matthews