Easter celebration: maintaining the  spirit of easter

Easter is the principal feast of the ecclesiastical year, the corner stone upon which faith is built and the oldest feast of the Christian Church. It is a connecting link between the Old and New Testaments

This Easter season which begins on Easter Sunday continuing for 50 days enables us to live truly as Christians; it is an opportunity for us to cultivate a spirit, the Spirit of the Easter season, that defines who we are as Christians.  May I suggest how to live in this spirit!

First, to live in the spirit of joy that cannot be taken away, even in the midst of sorrow and this makes us happy. It is well known that the Passion and Resurrection of Jesus teach us that suffering is transformed through faith in the Risen Christ. With this faith, we can hold on to an enduring sense of joy even in the midst of any sadness, failure or setback to achieve an important goal. We should rejoice because the Lord has ransomed us.

Secondly, the Easter spirit enables us to overcome fear. We know and believe that with God on our side we can overcome anything even death. The words of our Lord to the women at the tomb and later to his disciples, his first words are “Do not be afraid!” (Mt 28:5,10) These words speak to our hearts, helping us cope with the fear from any loss be it job, illness or serious problems. With this faith we can trust in God and able to overcome such situations.

Thirdly, Easter means to live with a sense of being renewed. Just as the return of spring lifts our spirits and makes us feel like the whole world is new, the Resurrection of Jesus makes “all things new.” (Rev. 21:5) The Easter spirit is a spirit of renewal that enables us to show up at work with a positive attitude, to renew relationships that have been taken for granted, and to express appreciation and affection to those closest to us. It means to see the world through new eyes, God's eyes as if for the first time. This enables us be truly Christian.

HAPPY EASTER TO ALL THE SENIORS.

Padre Gregory Mashtaki

Anglo Africa Spiritual Adviser