Happy Easter Everybody
“Happy Easter Everybody,” a famed saying for those of you, who like me, as a child were “required” to say a recitation or speech on Easter Sunday during service. That saying was usually reserved for those who didn’t take the time to learn a more elaborate piece or the very young who were there for the cuteness of it all in their shiny new Easter outfits.
As a youth, the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus befuddled me. How could a man be heralded as a King by his followers who laid palms for him as he rode into Jerusalem for what would be his last time, then be crucified, dead, buried, and resurrected by the end of the week. Yes, all that would be confusing to a child who doesn’t truly quite yet understand the power of God.
And speaking about the the power of God, you can praise, worship, and learn about it across any divide or barrier. Coming off a spring break week visit to family & friends in Savannah and Jacksonville, the kids and I attended church services on Palm Sunday with our cousin and native Jasper Countian Rodney Ross at a church where he is the musical worship leader & pianist and his nine year old son, Aaron, is the drummer in training. It was fantastic and enlightening…though the musical worship and sermon were in complete Spanish, a language none of us know fluently.
The church has a translator but after an hour or so, I didn’t need the language aid. After time and a little familiarity, you can “sense” where a person is coming from, genuine or else wise. After that two hour service in a foreign language, my heart felt full from the experience it was and the geniune welcoming love we felt from the congregation.
The minister, Rev. Juan Rodriguez, spoke on Jesus’ adventures in Jerusalem during what we now call Holy Week. Knowing the story and not necessarily the language, I was able to follow easily. He spoke about the disciples Peter and Judas and that famed last supper, urging us to learn and know who we are dealing with in life.
Also, he spoke on the seeds of love that Jesus sowed and encouraged amongst all and how that message can often seem lost in today’s society. “We say we love, but we don’t show we love,” remarked Rev. Rodriguez.
The kids and I have no concrete plans for Easter Sunday. Had my mom been around it would have been church and dinner with her, as she would have made all of our favorites. I heard an ad on the radio this week seeking volunteers to help feed the homeless on that day.
One thing we will do for sure, as we have done every year since their births and my youth, is watch the original version of the “Ten Commandments.” It’s a tradition my mom started when I was a kid. She would tune in on Saturday night as she prepared her Easter feast.
Whatever you do this weekend, have a Good Friday and Blessed Easter.