The season of Easter within my faith is the celebration of the living God. It is the miracle of the resurrection of Christ on the third day after the crucifixion. On Palm Sunday, Jesus’s followers paraded through the streets with gusto believing that their king and prophet was going to smite their enemies and raise them up to power. They had great expectations for the Son of God. Most did not listen, understand or accept his parables as he taught them what was to come. During the Last Supper, the disciples broke bread and drank wine together, symbolic of God’s sacrifice and the bond we all share with God even after death. Many did not understand the significance at the time. Their expectations were not fulfilled. As Jesus was dying they could not imagine a resurrection, though he tried countless times to open their eyes. This story has been passed down for thousands of years and we know what happens, but at the time the people did not. They relied on their faith as we do, but watching their hero appear vanquished made room for doubt in their hearts. When Jesus was resurrected, doubt was replaced with awe. We are now blessed with the knowledge of what transpired so long ago, though we did not witness these events first hand.
This year during the Palm Sunday service I cried as my father read the portion of Mark’s Gospel, in which Christ is crucified. I usually do. This year, even sitting at home attending virtual church I felt God’s presence within me and all around me. I broke out in chills. It was a very rainy day, and I found time to talk with God. I thought maybe the rain drops were tears from Heaven, expressing God’s sadness about the sacrifice which saved us from sin.
We preach that God is love, and not to be feared. We buy new spring dresses to wear to church. We have an Easter egg hunt after the service. An Easter bunny visits the children. Easter is about so much more than running around trying to collect the most candy. We must not forget this. This is a sacred week to study and pray. It is a time for silence and searching deep within ourselves to define what really controls our lives. Money? Power? Comfort? Material objects? It gives me hope and a feeling of security to have faith in a higher power we call by different names. We are all here together. I think we should try to make a conscious effort to help each other and to spread hope and love no matter what we believe. Jesus teaches me and many others that death is not the end. It is the beginning.
—SJB