Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Christ is risen. He is risen indeed.
We are people of the resurrection. This confession is not meant only for Easter Day but is a living hope that sustains us in our daily lives. We are spending this season in the joy of the resurrection. Yet at the same time, sorrow and loss still remain a part of our lives.
Around this Easter season, I received news of the passing of three people I knew well: my mentor in faith and graduate school advisor, Julie’s husband Robin, and a long‑time faithful member from a church I previously served. In moments like these, we naturally find ourselves asking: What does the hope of the resurrection say to us?
Not long ago, I visited Julie after the passing of her husband, Robin. She was in deep sorrow, yet she shared a quiet and steady confession of faith. She told me that Robin is now at peace in God’s presence and that she holds on to the hope of seeing him again one day. Then she added these words: “I don’t know how people deal with death if they don’t believe in God.” It was not a theological explanation but a confession that flowed out of real life. Her sorrow was great, yet within it, there was a clear and unwavering hope.
Another image has also remained in my heart. The faithful member I mentioned earlier was battling illness in the hospital. Even in her weakness, she recorded a simple song and sent it to me: “God is so good, God is so good, God is so good, He’s so good to me.” Her voice had grown very weak, yet her confession was unmistakably clear. Though her body was fading, her faith and hope in God remained alive.
Holding these two stories in my heart, I found myself reflecting again on what the resurrection means. The resurrection does not remove sorrow from our lives, but it gives us new eyes to see that sorrow. It enables us to hold on to hope even through tears, and to turn our gaze toward God even when everything feels like an ending.
We are people of the resurrection. Because of that, we can speak of hope even in sorrow, and we can turn toward God even in the midst of loss. May the risen Lord hold each of our hearts and lead us to live with hope wherever we are.
May the peace of the Lord be with you all.
Pastor Hyuntae Kim, Ph.D.