Little children, keep yourselves from idols. 1 John 5:21
“I have been told of a very small and very devout boy who was heard murmuring to himself on Easter morning a poem of his own composition, which began ‘Chocolate eggs and Jesus risen’. This seems to me, for his age, both admirable poetry and admirable piety. But of course the time will soon come when such a child can no longer effortlessly and spontaneously enjoy that unity. He will become able to distinguish the spiritual from the ritual and festive aspect of Easter; chocolate eggs will no longer be sacramental. And once he has distinguished he must put one or the other first. If he puts the spiritual first he can still taste something of Easter in the chocolate eggs; if he puts the eggs first they will soon be no more than any other sweetmeat.”
C.S. Lewis in “The Fair Beauty of the Lord” in Reflections on the Psalms as recounted in Preparing for Easter: Fifty Devotional Readings from C.S. Lewis (San Francisco: Harper One, 2017) 181-182.
God desires for each of us (and that includes our children and grandchildren), “to distinguish the spiritual from the ritual and festive aspect of Easter” as we grow in the Christian faith. But how do we attain, and more importantly, maintain a right perspective?
Talk about “Jesus risen” as the sweetest proclamation ever! Share how our enjoyment and generous sharing of gifts from God like chocolate eggs serve to sweeten the celebration, but warn how they can become idols if they supplant the spiritual focus of the holy day.
Is it time to reassess your traditions? With Lewis, don’t misunderstood this as a call to abandon baskets, hunts, and chocolate eggs. It’s a reminder to celebrate “Jesus risen” above all else this Easter. Perhaps share the sweetest news and a chocolate egg with your neighbor this holy day.