My earliest recollection of Resurrection Sunday happens in a church auditorium.

I’m grabbing my mother’s hand with my eyes fixated on the stage. The hall is quiet, and a large replica of Jesus’ tomb sits atop the stage.

In a terrifying moment of flashing lights and smoke, a deafening sound rumbles from within the tomb.

I let go of my mother’s hand and run out of the hall, wanting to put myself as far away as possible from the frightening stage.

I was six then, ultimately watching the “resurrection” through a TV monitor outside the auditorium.

It’s been more than a decade since then, and yet with every Resurrection Sunday I still find myself stuck outside that auditorium, watching the miracle through a screen.

Resurrection Sunday is almost like a fairy tale to us second-generation Christians.

The hero is slain but rises again, good conquering evil, a triumphant end to the chapter.

It’s easy to be caught up in the heroics of Jesus, so much so that we negate the heart behind His victory and diminish the implications to a static reminder of His glory.

Presentations are a mainstay of every Easter Sunday, featuring endless retellings of the Miracle and a packed church.

However, as a congregation member, I catch myself drifting during the service. The initial shock a decade ago now making way for familiarity.

When asked about what Resurrection Sunday means to them, most of my church friends uttered the same word: “Reminder”.

I found myself echoing their sentiments as well.

The Oxford Dictionary states that a reminder is “something that makes you think about or remember somebody.”

That’s it. A noun that ends with a thought of the past.

In Luke 24 when it was found that the tomb was empty, there was a shift in the town of Jerusalem.

People were talking about Jesus’ disappearance and the appearance of angels.

People got excited, they gathered to talk about Christ and found hope when just days ago they saw their Saviour nailed to the cross.

The story doesn’t end with speculation but rather a celebration into the future:

“While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.” (Luke 24:51-53)

The disciples saw Jesus as He was being lifted up into the Heavens, then worshipped Him as they joyfully returned to Jerusalem.

The chapter continues on with them choosing to remain in the temple, praising Him.

I can’t imagine the joy they must have felt, not just during the Miracle but after. It was an active choice to stay in the presence of God, even if He wasn’t physically with them.

Their joy was how the Resurrection lived on, transforming the Reminder into Rejoicing. 

It’s a familiar sight, the drawing of curtains and the praying of the benediction as the Easter service comes to a close. 

But where do we go from there? Do we leave the Lord’s presence and return to our homes?

Resurrection Sunday seems to exist just as its name suggests, within the span of a Sunday.

But Resurrection Sunday should instead be a call to action – a reminder that our lives are not our own, paid for by Jesus through His sacrifice.

A reminder that does not remain as a thought of the past but instead reignites gratitude and rejoicing in our Saviour.

Just as how the Church praised Him nearly 2000 years ago, I want this Resurrection Sunday to be my day of Rejoicing after the Reminder.