The Hope of Easter

Easter or Christmas, which is the most important Christian Feast? So often Christmas is thought of as the most important. After all how many people do you know that sing Easter Carols? There is no secret Easter Bunny leaving you a surprise basket on your desk at work. Dickens' masterpiece does not have Ebenezer Scrooge visited by three ghosts of Easter past, present and future.

The truth is that the Resurrection is the entirety of the Christian faith. I have often marveled at Jesus feeling so alone on the cross, seemingly losing the connection with the Father when he cries out “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Jesus shows us that the way to salvation is open to us all even those of us who have wandered away from God.

Easter gives me hope, not just for the time spent on this planet, but what we have to look forward to with our Father in heaven.

Recently I read a new book written by a friend of mine, Kent Hickey. He shared his reflection on the Ascension. As a child, he originally envisioned the Ascension as Jesus propelling himself into heaven on some type of ethereal hovercraft. As an adult, he realized that it was God the Father being a father who could no longer wait for the return of his son. I love the image of a loving father reaching down and taking a hold of his son, lifting him up into heaven. (God’s loving embrace)

As a parent of two as well as a “parent” to the students who walk our hallways I can fully understand the emptiness of a parent wanting our child to be with us –no matter how old that child is. It is a connection of love. May this Easter be a special time of connection between you and your children and between you and God.

Author: Mike Earsing, President