EASTER IS HERE - LET'S CELEBRATE

What does EASTER mean to you?

As we conclude our PASSPORT TO EASTER pilgrimage, here are some of my answers to the question above.

In providing my answers to this question, I hope some of my thoughts will resonate with you in answering the question, ‘what EASTER means to you’.

EASTER is the reason why we attend worship and sing words like
‘Death’s mightiest powers have done their worst,
And Jesus hath his foes disperse;
Let shouts of praise and joy outburst, Alleluia.

EASTER is the reason why we GIVE (not forced) of our time, our resources and our talents to our Parish and Church. St. Paul wrote ‘God wants us to be cheerful givers (give with a smile on your face and in your soul),

EASTER is the reason why we feel God’s forgiveness flowing over us, like a refreshing rain in springtime.

EASTER is the reason why we can be hopeful and optimistic about our future regardless of what people, society or circumstances may send our way.

EASTER is the reason why we can face today, tomorrow, the next day and forever. ‘I am with you always’, said the Risen Christ.

EASTER is also a time to renew our faith in God and our commitment to the Christian way of life. Take a few seconds to get connected with God

Easter is the reason why we did PASSPORT TO EASTER, and hopefully it will continue next year.

WALKING WITH THE LORD

Today 15 people walked in the rain. It took about 50 minutes to walk several kilometres.

Along the road they stopped first at a busy street corner to pray for their city and country.

At the second stop, they prayed at the intersection of a major highway to pray for the safety of those travelling by water, air and land.

At the centre of the neighbourhood, they prayed for their own neighbours, and all who inhabited all the dwellings in all of their local communities.

As they returned to the Church, they realized that one prayer had been answered. At the beginning of the walk, they ask God to keep them safe … God answered their prayers.

In addition, they were reminded that their walk parellelled another walk taken for them many centuries ago. Jesus walked from the city of holy to the hill of crucifixation. He walked for each of us, because we could not walk for ourselves. Jesus carried our sins … a burden too heavy for mortals, only God could carry the burden of sin.

We are saved by the cross.

Our PASSPORT TO EASTER journey is coming to an end .. but our PASSPORT TO NEW LIFE is just beginning.

LIFE IS COMPLEX

My newspaper told the story of two young boys.

The first boy phoned the emergency service to report that his mother had collapsed. She needed medical attention. It is reported that he was told that he should not be playing on the phone, and he could get into trouble. His mother died.

The other boy, aged 7, discovered smoke in their house, grabbed a phone, pushed his brother and their baby sitter out of the house and phoned 911. Nobody was hurt.

The response of other people often determines our future.

If the first operator had sent emergency personnel would the mother had been saved?. Nobody knows.

If the second operator had not believed the young kid on the telephone, and did not send the fire trucks, who knows what would have been the results.

Life is a vast complex interchange station, connecting people and allowing communications to flow to inform and elicit responses.

A journey, like the PASSPORT TO EASTER is very similar. We have walked together as pilgrims during Lent. We have listened to each other. We have tried to read between the lines of what we are trying to say, and we are trying to respond to each other to be sympathetic and support.

It is similar to Jesus, walking to the city of Jerusalem and to the hill of Calvary.

POWER - A NEW DIMENSION

In Jesus’ trial, it was as if two different languages were being spoken. The word “king” meant one thing to Pilate—and to the Jews. It meant something quite different to Jesus. His realm is a spiritual one. Thus there was little purpose in His answering his accusers.

Pilate, the Jewish leaders, and even Judas, in all likelihood, understood “power” in temporal terms. Each thought they had it and could exercise it to gain victory and control. Perhaps Judas had some understanding of spiritual power and God’s ability to act, but thought he could control that power, forcing God’s hand by his betrayal. Consequently, when he realized that God was not going to exercise temporal power and that Jesus was really going to die, Judas was devastated. Still, rather than throwing himself on God’s mercy, he kept “power” in his own hands and took his life.

Jesus’ resurrection puts “power” in a whole new dimension. But 2000 years later, we still find it tempting to wield “power” ourselves. May this celebration of Easter reveal to us more clearly God’s amazing “power”!

JESUS' WORDS .... OUR WORDS

The scene of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane is very poignant. Which one
of us, trying with the grace of God to carry out God's will, has not cried
out to God in Jesus' own words '...if it is possible, let this cup pass from
me; yet not what I want but what you want.'

It can be a consolation for us, when we face unwanted challenges in our own
lives, to know that Jesus himself struggled to conform his will to the will
of God, and that it was not easy for him to do this. In this way we know
that 'he bore our griefs and sorrows' too within his earthly life, and that
he, therefore, really does understand how difficult it can be for us to act
according to what God wants us to do in this life.

ACTIONS COUNT

Concerning Matthew 26: 6-13, the footnote in my New Revised Standard Version of the Bible says: "The woman's act won higher praise from Jesus than any other mentioned in the New Testament". I sensed this as I read Jesus' words about her: Truly I tell you, wherever this good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her. She may be an unnamed woman, but it is her action that counts in Jesus' eyes. As we proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ, let us remember the power of action--actions often do speak louder than words.

POURING OUT THE OIL OF COMPASSION

Jesus had been at pains to convince His supporters that observance of temple rituals was not what mattered to God. In fact, He predicted the destruction of the temple and spoke of His risen self as being the centre of worship. In addition, He foresaw the endless political struggles in the world, the violence and the destruction. He prophesied about false prophets and opposition to the Christian way. We of the 21st century certainly know the truth of His words!

The end of all this and the coming of God’s reign was very much in people’s minds in Jesus’ day. It is a subject that continues to fascinate many. But, as the psalmist tells us, “a thousand years in God’s sight are but as yesterday when it is past” (Ps.90:4) and we are foolish to try to guess at the timing of Jesus’ second coming. Jesus assures us there will be no doubt in anyone’s mind when that day comes. We must live each day like the woman who anointed Jesus, pouring out the oil of compassion. Jesus assures His disciples that, inasmuch as they do it for the least of His brothers or sisters, they have done it unto Him. And, as we pour out compassion, more is given to us. (Matt.25:29)