Once they understood that Christ rose from the dead, the apostles and all the followers of Jesus began to celebrate. That celebration continues every Sunday throughout the world--Christians everywhere celebrate an event so stupendous, so life-changing, that the party started 2000 years ago still goes on.
That's why Sunday worship is the foundation of Christian practice. It is the time we set aside to assemble as one people, praising, thanking, and receiving our one God. Every Sunday is Easter--every Sunday we celebrate the death and the resurrection of our Lord Jesus, and we welcome him in our midst as he comes to us through the Holy Supper. Every Sunday is a celebration of our Baptism into Christ--and when we withhold ourselves from Sunday worship, we withhold ourselves from Christ.
For those who seek to know Christ, and seek to become one with the Church, coming to worship can be an exhilarating but also difficult experience. Full participation in the Eucharist, being one with God, is a gift given to human beings in Baptism. A long time ago, way back in the 300s, Christians were baptized as adults, and often at the Easter Vigil, or worship service that lasted the night before Easter. As time went on, the learning period was formalized into 40 days, a number used in the Bible that means, "A significant period of time." For forty days, not counting Sundays, the seekers would be instructed as fully as possible in the mysteries of the church and the faith. Then, on the night of Easter, they would be baptized in a pool and join the Eucharistic assembly for the first time.
We live now in culture that is in some ways different than the one in which the early church grew. We often assume that Christian faith is the default setting on religious life, rather than something else. We are also beginning to learn that this assumption is often wrong. But for those who do worship and commune at the Lord's table, Lent has become a time for us to, as the prophet Joel writes, "Return to the LORD your God, who is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love." There is no expiration date on the Lord's Table. It will always be there for you, no matter how long you have not come to it, and no matter if you've never come to it at all. Many a conscience will say, "I have not been to church for years! What will people say?" Well, God will say, "Welcome." And if anyone is listening to God, that's what they'll say, too.
Still, Lent is a serious time. Removing ourselves from God means that we have sinned, and returning to God means that we are throwing ourselves on God's mercy and love. All of us, as St. Paul, have sinned and have fallen short--all of us can throw ourselves on God. Every year we get to throw ourselves into love with just a little more fervor--and that's what we call Lent.
