Eastertide and Ramadan

Eastertide is a thing! The word itself makes Easter live on—gives it movement, a destiny that fulfills resurrection purpose and joy. I love the word itself; it stirs my soul into what’s next.

It is rarely spoken of in Christian circles anymore, but it has a very significant place in traditional, liturgical calendars. It marks the 50-day period between Easter and Pentecost Sunday. Each Sunday in this season Christians celebrate Jesus’ resurrection from the dead in a way that anticipates Pentecost—the birth of Christ’s Church—when 120 God-fearing believers from “every nation under heaven” (Acts 2:5) were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues they didn’t know (Acts 2:6).

The purpose of this infilling was and continues to be empowerment for witness, for carrying the gospel’s great news to everyone who has not yet heard it. They were being equipped for God’s mission to bless the world with God’s free gift of eternal life.

This year, while we continue to celebrate Christ’s resurrection and the Church’s induction into God’s mission through it, we are aware of Islam’s Ramadan. It’s the antithesis to Christianity’s Easter. Because Islam’s calendar bases on lunar months, this year Ramadan starts during this Eastertide season. It’s a time when Muslims celebrate the initial revelation of their Qur’an to Muhammad. During the 30 days of Ramadan Muslims fast from sun-up to sun-down. They earnestly seek the favor of Allah and the forgiveness of sin.  

But they do not know the truth about Jesus’ death and resurrection! Most of them have never once heard it told. 

During Eastertide season, will you join Say Hello as we pray for Muslims, and ask Jesus to help us be the ones to share His good news with them?