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Tomorrow is Palm Sunday; it will be followed on Wednesday with the start of Passover; then the 10th will be Good Friday; and finally Easter on the 12th. Why are these sad occasions? Beginning with Good Friday, that is an oxymoron for sure. Jesus was crucified to have it done with before the start of Passover, a Jewish holiday which celebrated the sparing of the first-born sons of Jewish families and their escape from Egypt. Yet Jesus was a first-born son of Jewish parents, and the Jewish high priests ordered his death! These often conflicting holidays put the high and low points of two religions together in time. We are sad that the Jews were being persecuted, forcing their escape from Egypt. We are sad that they tried to preserve their jobs, so to speak, by allowing their newest competitor "Jesus" put to death.
For many, the celebration of these holidays is meaningful in the religious sense. Yes, it has come to mean new outfits and baskets of candy for some. But the true meaning of Easter is that belief in Jesus means life beyond death. When Christians die, it is only in the bodily sense, as the soul is eternal. The Jews do not accept life beyond death, and that has been a sticking point for over 2,000 years! When Islam as a religion developed about 600 years after Christianity, the leader Mohammed promised life after death as well. He considered himself a prophet following in the wake of the Old Testament Jews, the New Testament Christians, and he also taught that there is one God. Because he was initially a political figure in a volatile tribal society, the Islamic faith was born into a warlike milieu. This violence was propagated as this new religion took hold. Islam seeks to make "Holy War" or Jihad on those of other faiths. The three religions share territory and are in conflict to this day. Last Christmas I gave my husband a copy of the photo that became famous: America Rising. It pictured emergency workers in New York City following the attack on 911, arms outstretched, putting the American flag on a remaining building. I looked at that picture quickly one day, and for just a moment I saw it as Christ on his cross in the midst of the chaos and horror that was 911. Of course, it was firemen and police, but they all knew when they entered the Towers thinking they could rescue the victims, that it could be at the cost of their own lives. How like Jesus that was; submitting to what could be (and was) their deaths to save the lives of others. For years now our soldiers have been fighting against the Holy War that began at the Towers. Their purpose in the conflict is to free Middle Eastern countries of the dictators that subdue the people and promote religious wars that abruptly ended over 3,000 American lives here at home and sadly in doing so cost another 4,000+ American lives abroad. Our soldiers, with the best of intentions, went to protect our homeland from another massive terrorist attack. And with the worst of intentions the enemy is killing them off bit by bit. This Easter becomes a sad season thinking of a man of peace who 2,000 years ago was killed for his actions on behalf of others. Is that much different from our soldiers who are being killed today for their actions on behalf of others? Will we go to church Easter Sunday to thank God for the Resurrection of Christ and the promise that others who tried to do good did not die for nothing? Just Mom |
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