...for some of us?

Recently, I was at a meeting and the presenter referred to something that was happening this year on April 1, which happens to be Easter Day. He said the event would be, “April 1st, which is Easter Sunday, for some of us.”

I thought—what a curious way to say it? I imagine that he was simply trying to be inclusive and was merely acknowledging that not everyone celebrates Easter and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Fair enough, but what God did in Jesus the Christ that day wasn’t just for one particular group of people, it was for everyone, and for all time. Easter Day is Easter Day for everyone.

Now, I know that some of you are thinking—what about the Eastern Orthodox Church? Their Easter Day rarely coincides with us in the Western Church. Yes, but do you really think that was the inclusiveness the presenter was going for? No? Me either. I welcome his attempt at inclusiveness, but my point still stands: Easter Day, the Resurrection, the Good News is for everyone in the whole world—no matter what.

Jesus rose again for people of faith and people with no faith; for sinners and saints; for people of all genders and every orientation; for people who actively oppose the Gospel and for those who suffer and die proclaiming the Gospel. There is no one outside the scope of God’s love. Easter Day is not “for some of us,” it is for all of us.

We are so easily distracted into thinking that we are in some sort of race and that only those Christians who worship the right way and think the right things (us, in other words) will make it to that heavenly realm. Yet, the scriptures makes it clear that none of us have a chance without the Grace of God. Judgement is entirely God’s bailiwick and thankfully so. God judges with full knowledge, boundless mercy and deep, deep love. And not just for me, or for some of us, but for all of us.

This is the Gospel we proclaim, a Gospel that is inclusive, that is for all of us.