The Tribune

By ANGELA PALACIOUS

WE have now emerged from our holy weekend and have begun the season of Easter which continues until pentecost. What a glorious time to celebrate the love and mercy of God.

Maundy Thursday was the day to reflect on the last supper with its focus on the Jewish passover when the first born of the Egyptians were all killed because of their refusal to allow their Hebrew slaves to leave. It also saw the introduction of the first supper or the eucharist which Jesus Christ shared with his disciples before his arrest later that evening, and was the scene of the washing of the disciples' feet as a symbol of servant leadership.

Good Friday revealed the depth of God's love with the torture and crucifixion of our lord and savior, Jesus Christ on the cross. His is the epitome of sacrifice and suffering. We are moved by his forgiveness of his enemies, his offer of salvation to the penitent thief, and his entrusting his mother to John. We hear him acknowledge his thirst, his terrible separation from God because of taking on our sin, the commending of his Spirit to God his father, and his final cry of victory that his saving work is finished.

Holy Saturday was the day of quiet anticipation as we all await the promise of resurrection to be fulfilled. We ponder all that has happened and all that we hope to happen. Unlike the disciples, we know how the story will end. Many of them found his words so incredible or incomprehensible that they thought that his ministry had come to an abrupt end.

Easter Sunday is the culmination of all hopes and dreams as the report is given of the empty tomb, the appearances of the lord which now begin, and the promise of pentecostal power. Our redemption is obtained with the exchange of our lord's life in the place of ours. He is our substitute, and as a result we are able to be at one with God (Atonement). This is how the church expresses what Easter means, but what does it mean to you?

It is not really about Easter hats, baskets and bunny. Eggs remind us of life coming out of a seemingly dead object, and the lilies that come from 'lifeless' bulbs represent the power of God to bring things back from the dead. It is a time to enjoy beauty, creativity and new beginnings.

We are all invited to have an encounter as personal as that of Mary Magdalene. We may hear our own name called, and feel his loving presence with us. The effect of Easter depends on how we allow the days ahead to guide and direct our lifestyle decisions. Are we going to surrender our will to that of our creator, to accept the offer of salvation at such an astonishing price, and to submit to the empowerment of the holy spirit? Is Easter the most holy season of all for you?