By Tina L. Scott
For Christians the world over, the meaning of Easter is clear: It is the very foundation of our faith, the celebration of the Resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ. It is our hope. Our assurance. The very reason we are Christians.
But hundreds of years ago, the Easter holiday also took on some secular traditions: like dying or decorating eggs, baskets of treats and goodies on Easter morning, and the like.
In our family, we celebrate the true meaning of Easter, and Easter Sunday would not be complete without the beauty, tradition, and meaning of going to mass. But we also celebrate fun traditions like coloring eggs, Easter egg hunts, the Easter bunny coming, Easter baskets full of goodies for the littles ones, and a big meal with loved ones ... so Easter means all of that to me, too.
This blog includes images that depict some of those latter things ... little ones loving their Easter baskets and a delicious Easter dinner at one of our Easter celebrations. There is absolutely no doubt that the look of delight on a very special little boy's face as he discovers a new matchbox car and a small four wheeler in his Easter basket captured a magical moment for all of us. And just as adorable the delight of a certain little girl at the discovery of Chocolate! in hers!
Cheesy potatoes, fresh-baked rolls, corn on the cob, and steaks hot off the grill can make your mouth water! Colored eggs in an antique wooden bowl make a beautiful centerpiece. And homemade cheesecake in a trendy pie plate is enticing to say the least.
But as I experienced Easter Sunday mass this year, the photographer in me really, really wished I had had my camera in hand and could have been discretely capturing some of the images that just spoke to me and would have really depicted the true meaning of Easter here for me. It wouldn't have been appropriate, of course. But these are the images I really wanted to include in this blog.
If I could have created those images with my camera, this is what they would have looked like. A picture really is worth a thousand words, so these descriptions won't compare to the images I could have created with my camera, but follow along with me to see if you can envision these images in your mind's eye. How I wish I could have created them for you to see here!
The first image I wanted to create would feature the red eternal light of Christ candle in the foreground, its light flickering, with the gold and ivory crucifix on a stand in the background. In between stands the stately and shining brass tabernacle where the consecrated bread/the body of Jesus is kept between masses, flanked on either side by candleabras holding five burning candles each with pink potted azaleas before them, ivory and gold altar cloths beneath them. It is a holy vision. Appealing both visually and spiritually.
In the second image, you would see two men in white, ivory, and gold embroidery trimmed robes and stoles, white collars visible at their necks, standing behind the altar and facing the congregation. The altar is covered with ivory and gold trimmed altar cloths. Before the altar is a huge basket of fresh spring flowers, with green leafy potted plants, and potted flowers spread on the steps in a blanket of color: yellow blooming daffodils, purple crocus, yellow spring mums, white Easter lilies, blue and pink hydrangeas, pink azaleas, and more. Amid the flowers on the lowest step are two baskets on either side, filled with food donations for the food pantry. On the altar is the red hardbound book of the mass, open on a stand. Flanking the altar are two tall communion candles on each side standing in tall, ornate stands. To the left, a little further away and taller, stands the ornate Baptismal candle, lit for this occasion. In the middle of the altar stand two chalices containing wine and brass plates filled with bread ... communion hosts ...
But the focal point of this image is above the altar, in the outstretched arms of the two men. The deacon is on the left, his arm and eyes stretched upward, holding a brass chalice of wine. The priest on the right holds in his two hands a large host, broken in half and held so it is overlapping, arms stretched heavenward, eyes focused on the bread with an intensity of faith and belief ... In this image I wanted to create, the vision would be so alive you could almost hear the priest's words as he speaks the doxology: Through Him, With Him, and In Him ... in the unity of the Holy Spirit ... all glory and honor is yours, Almighty Father, forever and ever.
There are other images I would take during this beautiful service ... Of a congregation with many churchgoers outfitted in new Easter dresses and a few little girls in bonnets and gloves, little boys in suits and ties. ... Of a toddler reaching for the host ... Jesus ... as the woman who is holding him partakes of Holy Communion, and after all, who wouldn't reach for Jesus given the opportunity. Of the new father carrying his sleeping baby girl in his arms coming back from Communion, the sleeping little angel in pink obviously only weeks old. Of the toddler two pews ahead of us who keeps errupting into delightful giggles during the service and makes everyone around him smile. Of the priest and the deacon blessing the congregation with Holy water. Of the choir of school children singing songs celebrating the Resurrection. So many images I do not actually have, but hold only in my mind. These I would have created, had I had the chance.
It's a funny thing to share in a photographer's blog, isn't it? Stories of the images I didn't get to capture, the photographs I didn't get to create. But such is the mind of a photographer and what often consumes me. For every beautiful image I create, there are dozens more I miss.
But there is always the hope that one day I will have the opportunity to create those images. Hope.
Really and truly, that is the meaning of Easter to me. That is the gift Jesus gave us when He rose from the dead. Hope. Eternal hope.
I hope that you and your family had a blessed Easter Sunday, and I hope that you are filled with renewed hope in your life! It is, after all, the gift and meaning of Easter.
Tina