Day 15: Light

 "In the beginning,  God created the heavens and the earth...  and God said let there be light and there was light." Genesis 1:1-3

"They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them." Luke 24:3-5

From the very first days of Christianity,  Christians gathered on Sunday to celebrate the resurrection.  From my reading,  it seems these first gatherings were joyful.  They did not focus on the last supper or the cross,  but rather the joy and light and hope of the resurrection.  They ate together bread and wine. Everyone contributed money to a pot and the money was divided among the poor in the group.  I gather it felt more like a weekly family holiday or gathering.  Come together,  share a meal,  affirm who were are,  make sure everyone is doing OK and take care of folks who aren't.  

As Christianity spread into gentile areas of became necessary to instruct new Christians in the teachings and traditions of Judaism. This included adding readings from the old testament scripture. They tied the resurrection to the creation.  On the first day, the day of the sun,  God made the world.  On the first day,  God renewed the world in the resurrection of Christ. 

I had never considered this before. That the resurrection occurred on the 1st day. Sunday.  The day of the sun.  The day that God created light. In the darkness of the tomb,  God created light again and there the darkness could no longer dwell. 

Easter is coming. Light and hope and unshakable peace for a world that desperately needs it. 

Come,  Lord Jesus.