Chaplains Corner

(Article for Friday, April 11,2025)

"Become Easter People All Year Long”

Another celebration of Easter is fast approaching.  This Sunday, we celebrate Christ entering Jerusalem, through the East gate of the city, on the back of a young unbroken donkey, at the start of the annual Passover Celebration.  Jesus slowly and humbly made His way through the happy and excited crowds, who have adorned the streets with Palm branches, and parts of their clothing, on this traditional day,  we call Palm Sunday!  The people acknowledging Jesus as a Savior, the Messiah, to deliver them from the oppression and bondage they have faced under their foreign rulers and restore Israel to its golden age! What we know as Palm Sunday is the beginning of the celebration of Passover, the beginning of what we know as Holy Week, leading up to Easter Sunday!

We will imagine the miracle of the commemoration of Easter, of our Lord and Savior overcoming the grave and being the Risen Christ!  There are so many of us that will rejoice and rededicate ourselves humbly, to follow Christ and live by His Word more closely.

But wait a minute, maybe we are being too self-focused? There are possibly other thoughts we may have too? Give a time of thought and really search for possible answers.  Is there more to the celebration of the season that we include besides a gathering or reunion of family, the partaking of good food, and Easter Egg hunts for the kids? Are there some lingering thoughts in your mind left unanswered? How many folks may wonder why most churches are filled to capacity and possibly more crowded during Easter services than at most any time of the year?  How many of us are there because of tradition only, spousal or family urging, expectation of others for the children’s sake, or because it’s expected, in the light of others around us? 

Have you ever thought how many people are thought to be C & E thinkers, you know, people that only attend churches for Christmas and Easter? Men may dust off the navy suit, Ladies, may buy a new dress and look very closely at the children?  How many of us, me included, have been at some point, once a year people in our lives or maybe still are today?  We may and do think about ‘wondering what could we do to become Easter People all year long’?  What could we do and open our hearts and minds to the truth of the Risen Christ this year, that we have traditionally celebrated each year! How many of us wish that they had a true, sincere, and believing guide to help us understand!

As Believers. the other major truth is, that many of us may have a great deal of questions on our minds, no matter what we say!  We may not be aware of that because we haven’t taken the time or looked for the opportunity, to approach others in true fellowship, speak to them and try to form productive relationships regarding the Gospel.  There are many that may be reluctant to come forward and admit how they may feel for a long time and their lack of their ‘leap of faith’ may have been a byproduct of their childhood, family or married values or habits, or both!  There are others that feel that their lives are going along just fine, for now, and believe that their rewards are found in their earthly lives.

There are also many of us that are just waiting for someone to reach out to them, in Christian love, faith and patience. As Believers, we can give enough of ourselves to reach out to one another and increase or encourage them to be disciples of Jesus Christ!  We can be much more observant and become closer to those around us.  There are so many waiting, wondering and willing for us to approach them and to simply encourage them to ‘know Jesus better’!  If there is someone you meet or may have known for a long time, that you feel is possibly struggling with questions and truth in their faith or acceptance, "YOU” can make the difference in their lives!

The Easter Holidays are not only a time of celebration, but of reflection and rededication as well. There are many of us that come to a ‘fork in the road’ ahead of us!  We must make the decision in our lives, for our continuous spiritual learning and growing, and make our acceptance of Jesus Christ in our lives much deeper.  One path we may see as well traveled by many and the other is much more narrow and less traveled.  It’s up to us which one we travel and we always have a choice to dedicate or rededicate ourselves and chose the less traveled path with a true heart of service for ourselves and so many others! 

As Believers, it is with that assurance that we can turn to those that seem lost or troubled, help those who are bound by their past or present, and help ourselves and others to overcome our worries and fears.  WE will find that not only does Jesus love us, but we can accept and help others accept His love for all of us.

Wishing each and every one a Joyous Easter…” All Year Long” …!

It is by His Grace we are saved…by His Word we live….and by His will we serve others…!