Easter Monday

4/6/2026

by Sophie Maccagnano & Kaylyn Collins

SCRIPTURE

1 Peter 1:3

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

Matthew 28:5-7

“But the angel said to the women, 'Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lau. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him.’”

DEVOTION

Though Easter Monday is often celebrated with egg rolls, egg hunts, and a day of rest, there is another layer of significance for this day during the Octave of Easter. After Jesus was resurrected, he remained on this earth for forty days to strengthen the faith of his disciples and to continue healing his people. Easter Monday starts this season of hopeful preparation and joyful celebration of Jesus' resurrection and appearance among his people.

Therefore, Easter Monday is a day full of joy and celebration, and it starts a season of preparation for receiving the Holy Spirit. This day is the beginning of Jesus' redemption of His people, and of our spiritual rebirth. As we transition from the celebration of conquering death to the daily life in this sinful world we live in, this Monday is a reminder to Christians to hold onto the promise of a new life through Him. First Peter 1:3 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” This time of Eastertide should continue the hope we hold and encourage believers that there is a world beyond this physical reality.

Furthermore, the Lord is also able to resurrect parts of our lives that seem dead and gone. Take it upon yourselves to recognize what areas of your life feel stagnant and without Christ. The power of the empty tomb is the first demonstration of our Lord’s power and majesty. The next forty days, starting with Easter Monday and ending on Pentecost, can be the renewal of your life through ceaseless praying and dependency on our Lord.

Take hope that Jesus wins His greatest victories in the midst of defeat, and has washed our blood clean with His own. Therefore, this period after Easter is just a continuation of the Lord’s promise and hope to us. Through any unknowns and uneasiness, the Lord always provides and finishes what He says, as it says in Psalm 138:8, “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me.” And with that, we should proclaim the good news and trust in the plan that God has for us. As we move into the season before Pentecost, take time to reflect, pray, and praise the wondrous miracle that God displayed with the resurrection of our Savior.

Prayer:
Dear God, help me to hold onto this promise of New Life throughout my life, and to continue praising your wondrous works. You are so good. Help me focus on the miracle of Jesus while navigating the sin and corruption of this world. Let the hope of Jesus’s resurrection fill my heart and set my eyes on you.
Amen.

MUSIC

Easter Oratorio, Sinfonia by Johann Sebastian Bach 0:00-4:02

Interpretation:
The use of trumpets and violins in this section shows the vibrant proclamation of the resurrection and the hope of the promise God has extended to us as believers. J.S Bach exhibits the excitement of New Life through his composition, and the Sinfonia brings the upbeat symphony that can be used as an encouragement and hopeful reminder. Throughout the next season of preparation for receiving the Holy Spirit, this piece of music can continue to provide joy and inspiration to believers for the New Reality with God.

POETRY

The Flower by George Herbert

How fresh, oh Lord, how sweet and clean

Are thy returns! even as the flowers in spring;

To which, besides their own demean,

The late-past frosts tributes of pleasure bring.

Grief melts away

Like snow in May,

As if there were no such cold thing.

Who would have thought my shriveled heart

Could have recovered greenness? It was gone

Quite underground; as flowers depart

To see their mother-root, when they have blown,

Where they together

All the hard weather,

Dead to the world, keep house unknown.

These are thy wonders, Lord of power,

Killing and quickening, bringing down to hell

And up to heaven in an hour;

Making a chiming of a passing-bell.

We say amiss

This or that is:

Thy word is all, if we could spell.

Interpretation:
George Herbert uses the life cycle of a flower to signify his renewal of spiritual life. First, he talks about how the frost and grief melt away as the spring comes upon him. The season of Spring shows how the dead flowers from December grow back with bright greenness and vibrant life. The season of Winter symbolizes the death of Jesus, whereas Spring symbolizes his renewal and return to the Kingdom. He even compares his own heart to the dead flowers, and how the amazing miracle of Jesus’s resurrection brought the greenness and life back into his own life. In the last stanza, George praises God for his works and the act of Jesus going down to Hell, and then coming back up to heaven for us. This poem can further help believers grow in the joy and hope of the resurrection, and can even serve as a reminder of the sacrifice Christ made for us. When you see a flower, whether it’s blooming or dead, remember the journey to Hell that Jesus took for us, only to be resurrected back into life. So, as the flowers start blooming victoriously through the next couple of months, be reminded that the miracle of Jesus will reign over any troubles and burdens you may carry, and as believers, we can know that a New Life is waiting for us at Jesus’s side.

ARTWORK

“The Incredulity of St. Thomas” by Caravaggio

Interpretation:
This painting is a wonderful representation of St. Thomas, afraid to believe in such an impossible feat as the Resurrection Afraid to have hope. As we navigate the theme of hope and anticipation for Christ’s return, take inspiration from this painting and the unimaginable hope of Jesus defeating death. Incredulity means to have an unwillingness to believe something, and in this case, to believe in a miracle. This painting is another reminder that the resurrection of Jesus is real and a reason to celebrate, and not just a story. This will bring joy and hope for new life in our daily lives as believers.

Biographies:
The authors of this project are Sophie Maccagnano and Kaylyn Collins, seniors from Pusch Ridge Christian Academy. Sophie plans on attending Montana State University in the fall to study biology and, of course, hike the mountains. Kaylyn plans to attend college in Nashville, where she will also study biology and live out her country roots. They are so excited for what’s to come!

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Easter Monday

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