Easter Thoughts...

Easter signifies resurrection. Easter Season is a beautiful cycle of meaningful life-changing events. 

It starts with Ash Wednesday on which we burn the palm leaves which we preserve in our houses since the previous year's Palm Sunday. On that day, we put the sign of the cross on our forehead. We burn our sins in the Divine Fire of God's Love and repent for them and start a penance through the forty days of lent.

We walk the Way of the Cross once in a week to realise the agony of the painful death that Christ took upon himself to redeem mankind from the bondage of sins.

The Sunday before Easter is Palm Sunday, which is celebrated in memory of Jesus' triumphant entry to Jerusalem as its King. On that day, we receive the palm leaf, blessed in the church, which will be burned to ash on the next Ash Wednesday.

With Palm Sunday starts the Holy Week of Passion. That Thursday is called Maundy Thursday on which we remember the last feast which Jesus shared with His twelve disciples, where He washed their feet, through which He taught them to Love and Serve the mankind.

Next day is Good Friday, the commemoration of Christ's death on the cross. After the Holy Saturday, a day of waiting before Easter, the glorious day of Easter breaks. The long awaited day of reward for all the sufferings and sacrifices, it comes to bring a New Life and New Hope to Mankind through the celebration of the mysterious resurrection of Christ from the grave. 

The Bible very clearly says that Jesus was born, lived and died to save the Mankind from their sins. Though only Christians follow Jesus' life and teachings, His Salvation and Blessing are free for any human being to attain.

It is very interesting to watch the nature during this time. This is the starting of Springtime, the blossoming of many trees which looks barren throughout the year. 

It is a good time to refresh our lives too. God wants His children always to be happy and fresh in spirit. He is ever willing to bless us with a fulfilling life and overflowing cup of joy which we don't enjoy because of our polluted mind and spirit. It is human to be trapped in the vicious ways of the world and collect negativity in our being. This negativity becomes our own enemy at the end and only God's Love and Power can redeem and cleanse us from its bondages. 

Others may tell us that we are sinners and there is no hope of God's blessings. It is not true. Jesus loves sinners and wants to give them Everlasting Life. He brings hope for the poor and the downtrodden. He will give Life in all its Abundance to those who come to Him with a repentant heart. He waits to cleanse the sinner with His Holy Blood and dress him with the New Robe of Salvation.

We planted a Chembaka sapling in front of our house on the road side. The ground was so rocky and we couldn't dig too deep. We were discouraged by our neighbours, yet we planted it. They continued to tell us that there is no place for the roots to spread, the pit should've been very deep etc. There was nothing positive that we heard after planting it. We continued watering it and removed the worms which attacked it. Three days back, after two years of waiting, we got a saffron coloured flower. We have let it float in a small bowl, on our altar. Its fragrance continues to fill our hall for the third day. It speaks volumes to me. When planted where you have to be planted, God is able to bring forth flowers, in His time. 

There is an appointed time for everything under Heaven. Waiting in joyful hope will never go in vain. God loves and blesses His children who wait on Him with a heart of thanksgiving and praise. 

No matter what our present situation is, there is a sure possibility of a perfect transformation in our lives. May Easter make His children resurrect as His New Creation.