He is Risen

Okay – this would seem to be posted a day early, but in Việt Nam, Easter has already arrived.  Of course, the Vietnamese are used to getting up early – at most of the Catholic churches, the first Mass is at 5 AM every week – so a sunrise service is not a big deal.

This will be the first Easter we have celebrated here in America in four years.  Last year, we had just arrived in Huê to begin a month of work with MEDRIX.   We went to a “late” service (8 AM) and the message was just as joyful in Vietnamese as in our own English service at home.  Oh yes – it is very different – the men sit on one side of the sanctuary, and the women and children on the other (the Mystery Guest Blogger and I sat together)  and the building was warm (no air conditioning – another reason for early services), yet we knew what was going on when someone read from a book or well-scrubbed kids brought some bread and wine up to the priest.

Of course, in 2006 and 2005, we were living in Huê.  Seeing Christianity practiced through Asian eyes gave us a perspective of the wider scope of God’s grace. 

After a morning at our own church building where we helped others scrubbed the place up for The Big Day, we look forward to an Easter at home.

Yeah – its nice to be home, but then again, Việt Nam is home too.  Happy Easter, everyone.

Comments

[The other Tuan]

Happy Easter to you and your wife too!

[Triet]

Thanks Doug. For some reason this year, the spirit of Easter just didn't really click in until I read your post. Somehow bringing me back to Vietnam brought me back to Earth and it all had meaning again.