Hello Easter 2020

Photo uploaded by my Canadian friend, Michael Henry

This year's Easter of staying home and social distancing is tough, isn't it? Fortunately it is the first serious disease for many of us that has stopped us in our tracks, a global pandemic with no viccine to protect us (it's at least 18 months away). Unlike earlier generations, we aren't used to enduring fear, suffering, and uncertainty over a long haul. And yet, we know we'll get through this trying time, don't we? Of course, we do. 

"Tomb, thou shall not hold Him longer; 

Death is strong, but Life is stronger;

Stronger than the dark, the light;

Stronger than the wrong, the right;

Faith and Hope triumphant say

Christ will rise on Easter Day."

~ An Easter Carol by Phillips Brooks (who wrote "O Little Town of Bethlehem")

Wash those praying hands often.😊


Stay vigilant and well, my lovelies. Happy Easter Everyone!🌷

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On Easter Sunday we again celebrate hope, optimism and human perseverance. It's been quite a year, but we're still here to forge ahead.

Speaking of which, Notre Dame Cathedral's famous rose window was saved following Monday's fire. And thankfully, much of the iconic stained glass windows, art and relics are safe too! Some of these irreplaceable articles date back to the 13th century.

Let's jump back a little further in time ... do you recognize this man? 

 Photo: TwentyTwoWords.com

If a history buff, you might. He looks more Middle Eastern than how centuries of Western paintings, films and television series depict him.

The Jesus of Nazareth 1977 television movie

I grew up with the image of blue-eyed, hunky actor, Robert Powell as Jesus. (Va-va-room, I believe!🙂) However, theologians who study history say the real Jesus Christ looked more like the first image above. As a Galilean, his skin was dark, his beard (if he had one. Jews in Antiquity often didn't) and hair were coarse and cut short; and it is likely: Jesus was not long and lean, but shorter in stature. Does it matter to believers that the real Christ looked so different than how we in the West were conditioned to see him?

Enjoy this lovely holiday with family and friends. It's Passover weekend also for those who celebrate. A weekend to relax and spend in a positive way ... Muslim, Jew, Christian, or something else. Let's put Christ back into Christians and commit to treating everybody with love and respect. Strive for fairness and humanity for all. I'm pretty sure, we'll fall short sometimes, but we will hit the mark often if always striving!!!

On this Easter Sunday eat the chocolate!🍬

Happy Easter!

 - The Chi Rho is formed by superimposing the first two (capital) letters chi and rho (ΧΡ) of the Greek word "ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ" = Christ.

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To get your fix of the festive Easter eggs, ducklings and bunnies I usually post on this holiday, go here. But this year, let's change it up a bit. There are many unsettling world events, including recent terrorism in France, Belgium and Turkey, as well as, the hateful rhetoric we hear from one presidential candidate in the United States. Worldly and personally, life always has challenges. So why is Easter celebrated?

Christianity recognizes that good and evil exist in the world. Traditional Christianity teaches that humanity has a basic flaw, called sin (which is to "miss the mark"). It says, when we choose sin over good, it shatters our relationship with God and one another. Christians believe God sent his only son to overcome sin, and in doing so, humanity was restored to grace ("the free, unmerited favor of God," also "divine influences to inspire virtuous impulses").

In the end, believing requires a leap of faith. That's why I love Caravaggio's beautiful painting of Christ with St. Thomas. By nature, I'm more like St. Thomas, than I am like St. Peter or St. Paul, the two transcending leaders of the early Church. Definitely, I'm the person who'd ask to put my fingers in the wounds to believe. Then after, I might still have some doubts! The Christ in the Gospels and painting accepts it. If anything, Jesus is for transparency, "Come, touch. See for yourself."

Easter celebrates a belief that ultimately good will defeat evil and eternal life will replace death. It encourages us to have hope and human perseverance. 

And now, let's go on a blog pilgrimage! Join me in marveling at some of the most stunning stain glass in Christian churches around the world. Regrettably, I can only post a few:

Church of Notre-Dame au Sablon, Brussels, Belgium

Notre-Dame Cathedral of Reims - windows by Marc Chagall

St Nicolaaskerk Church, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Sebastian, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Happy Easter Everyone!
        

Check out this jaw-dropping mosque also.

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Easter is ...

Colorful Easter eggs, which turn into snacks and deviled eggs.

Hope, optimism and human perseverance. A belief that good will overcome evil.

The beginning of a new cycle of life.

Chocolate candy ... there is always chocolate candy.

More Easter thoughts here.

Happy Easter, dear readers! 

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This is the Easter card (by Marian Heath) I sent to my Mom.  Look at those beady eyes and wedged feet. Darling, right? 

Easter is the oldest and most important festival on the Christian calendar, celebrating the belief that Jesus rose from the dead.  Christians believe that good can defeat evil, and eternal life will overcome death.  In a nutshell, humankind was liberated from sin and darkness and returned to grace.  (The word "sin" as used in the New Testament, is translated from the Classical Greek word, "ἁμαρτία."  It means "to miss the mark.")  

Like Passover, Easter is not a fixed holiday. It falls between March 22 and April 25 on the first Sunday after the first full moon, following the northern spring equinox. According to Bede, a Medieval sourcebook, the word "Easter" is Old English from German.  It stems from "Eastre," the name of a pagan spring and fertility goddess.  Rooted in Judaism, Easter marked the beginning of a new Church with new traditions.

Spring is an ideal season to celebrate Easter since in nature it's a time of new beginnings ...

... for plants and cute little creatures all around us.  

Easter critters remind me of the time I crossed Central Park to find a baby duck.  It was a scorching afternoon.  Three strangers and I took turns holding the duck like an infant while we called rescue places and tried to figure out what to do?!?  The temperature was so hot we feared the duck would dehydrate, so we tried to get him to float in a pond, but the second we put him in the water, he climbed out and ran back to us.  Finally, we located an organization, which found the little fellow a home.  That baby duck would have died in the blistering sun.  Better to celebrate Easter by bringing home the chocolate variety.  

Enjoy the new season.  Happy Easter!  And Happy Passover!

               


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The custom of giving eggs began as a pagan practice, but was adopted by early Christians.  Easter eggs are used as symbols of new life, the arrival of spring and the resurrection of Jesus.  Plus, kids love dyeing them.

Michelangelo's Pieta, which depicts the body of Jesus on his mother's lap after the Crucifixion, is poignant, equally human and divine.  Easter remembers this, but more importantly, celebrates the resurrection of Jesus -- a miracle in the Christian faith -- showing how it is possible for good to conquer evil and life to overcome death.

Happy Easter Everyone!  Enjoy your Easter egg hunt, basket of treats and family dinner. And take a moment to remember ...

Life is good.

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