Yesterday was Easter, and if your holiday was anything like mine, it was nowhere close to normal. Usually, we start the day at church. Later, my house would be filled with family members talking, laughing and preparing a big dinner in the kitchen together. We would have an Easter egg hunt in the yard for all the children while we held the dogs back from discovering the eggs before the kids.

This year, however, the celebrations were more subdued. Since we are sheltering in place, our Easter dinner party consisted only of those who live with me in my house, and since we have no children, there was no egg hunt. It was quiet and it felt odd.

Perhaps your celebrations felt different too and not being with family could be difficult. You may have even felt some loss – physical loss of family members, loss of traditions or loss of fun. But I was reminded yesterday during our virtual church service that you cannot lose Jesus. Even in the midst of all the crazy that is going on, the uncertainty of tomorrow and the fear and pain of a pandemic, you cannot lose Jesus … ever.

Mary Magdalene was reminded of this when she went to the tomb and found it empty. She stood there weeping when Jesus suddenly called her name. Instantly, she turned around and exclaimed, “Teacher!” (John 20:16) She thought she had lost her lord until she heard him call her name. What can Jesus’ voice do for you?

Jesus is right there beside you and he knows your pains, hurts, joys and sadness. He experiences it with you. In the face of death or greatest loss, we must live in the hope of the resurrection. Jesus is alive and you can never lose him. Today and every day, he is calling you by name. Will you hear it?

“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8:38-39