Can You Imagine Easter Without Eggs? And Without the Cross and the Empty Tomb?

The price of hen eggs is skyrocketing, the media in the Czech Republic report. While in the United States the people are debating fuel prices, the Czechs observe with displeasure how the cost of their favorite food item has gone from 2.5 Czech crowns (about 12 cents) in January up to almost 6 crowns (30 cents) in March. The reason for this more than double increase is a change that came into effect with the New Year in one of the European Union regulations concerning the minimum size of hens’ cages, requiring the farmers in Europe to adjust the birds’ house dimensions. Fifteen EU states didn’t comply with the new agricultural directive, so the importation of eggs has dropped significantly, causing a shortage of eggs in the market. Experts predict that the prices will grow even further with the Easter festival approaching. White shell eggs are lacking in our market, as they are more fragile. Therefore, they are usually imported from other countries, many of which are now banned from exporting eggs until their farmers fix the hens’ habitations.
No doubt eggs are important for our nutrition. They are important for our celebration of Easter, too! Easter eggs, either plain or hand-painted and precisely decorated, have become a symbol of the new life that was bought for us and brought to us by the death and resurrection of God’s own Son, Jesus. However, as important as symbols are, they are not the thing itself. Having eggs around brings no one closer to the forgiven life that our Lord has won for us on Easter. Only the Gospel can do that. Wouldn’t you then be willing to let go of all the Easter eggs there are, if it meant that people would listen more to the story behind the Easter festival and its meaning for their lives? After all, the price that was paid on the cross, once for all, was the highest anyone could ever pay, and it brings us benefits far beyond any food or market commodity ever could.
We Lutheran Christians in the egg-deprived country know that, and we want the Spirit-deprived fellows around us to know that as well. With your help and under His guidance, we can truly make a difference. May you also have a Christ-centered and Christ-glorifying Easter!
Petr Krakora, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Plzen, Czech Republic.