We Are Community for the week of April 10th, 2023, by Joyce Steiner

We Are Community 145

Today is Easter Sunday-a very important day for many.  A day like many other days for others.  Most of us have free choice.  Some do not by circumstances of birth or health.  We may choose to attend church on Easter Sunday to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.  Or we may choose not to do so.

When we were in our mother’s womb, I suspect we thought that was the only life we would have.  We were warm and secure and if lucky well cared for and nourished as we grew.   Then one day something really awful happened.  We were pushed out of our “home” and had to breath on our own and had a whole new life.

After a certain point in this second life, we were given choice.  It has been said that one is about as happy as they decide to be.  I believe that to a point.  We can choose education or not.  To be good to our bodies or not.  To eat right or not. To exercise or not.  To do things we know are bad for us like drinking and smoking or not.  We can work or not.  We can be kind to others or not.  We can, especially today, try to push our beliefs on others or not. We can think of ourselves first or not.  We can go to church or not.  So many choices!

We can believe that this life is the only one we will have just as we did in the womb or not.  Easter gives us Hope.  Hope that there is yet another life after this one.  That we will once again see those loved ones who are no longer with us.  That all our earthly suffering, pain, sadness, anguish, illness and other problems will no longer exist.  There will no longer be rich and poor.  No longer be master and underling.  No longer be physical hunger and other needs not met in our lives.

As long as we are in this life, there is the hope for an even better life to come if we believe in the grace of God.  Easter is one day, of many, to believe in all the good possibilities of an even better life after this one

I think it is wonderful that we get to celebrate Easter in the spring.  The birds have returned.  Many flowers are blooming.  The grass is greening.  I saw a butterfly just a while ago and a bee.  Our part of the earth is warming and sunshine improves my day and my outlook.  Spring can be a new beginning.

Easter, like life, is not all happiness and joy.  On Good Friday we celebrate with a Tenebrae service.  This is a service of darkness where candles are extinguished one by one until there is darkness.  It reminds us that Jesus died on a cross for each of us.  We do not have to go through that experience ourselves, our sins are forgiven by grace.  Saturday is a day of wondering what is to come.  Easter Sunday is the day of promise.  Jesus rose.  There is Hope for each of us too.

Posted in Plymouth News