Easter

What does the word "Easter" mean to me?

E = everything.  Without the power of Easter and the resurrection, we have no life.  Life as we know it would be the end.  With the resurrection, we have a reason to live in this life - in anticipation of the next life.

A = Alleluia.  The Alleluia has been absent during Lent as we anticipate its proclamation with Easter.  Alleluia means "praise" and we have much to praise.  We praise Jesus for his saving ministry.

S = Sanctity.  As mentioned above, the resurrection leaves us with a purpose in this life.  In that purpose, we are called to live and the life we are called to live is sanctity, it is holiness.

T = Time.  The Season of Easter is timed to be fifty days.  Seven signifies the fullness of life and is the perfect number.  Square the perfect number and we come up with forty-nine.  The fiftieth day marks a new beginning and it is Pentecost - the birth of the Church.

E = Everyone.  To state that Jesus died for only a certain group or nationality is foolishness.  Jesus Christ came to suffer and die for everyone, that all my have life in him.

R = Resurrection.  As I say many times, we can all suffer, which we sometimes do, and we will all die.  But the resurrection?  That belongs to Jesus Christ.

The above is what Easter means to me and now I ask, what does it mean for you?

Have a blessed Easter season!

Father Schuster