Easter is another of the sacred Christian celebrations hijacked by commercal enterprises. However, Christianity cannot cleanly call out commercial commandeering. Early on, Springtime has evoked symbolism of new life, beauty, and beginning again. Pagan and Christian celebrations, festivals, and rituals have been human responses to Springtime for centuries. It was a natural for Christianity for grafting new shoots of life and meaning onto existing significant celebrations—it helped involve populations at their level of understanding and introduce Christian faith; it responds to the call to “…be a light unto the nations…”.
Christianity, having deep roots in Judaism, it was a short step to Easter from the Jewish celebration of Passover, one of the earliest, most meaningful Jewish Holy observances. Jesus, a faithful Jew, was observing the Passover when the plot against his life took its final, fatal turn. His Resurrection, three days after his execution established Easter. New Life burgeoned. The fact that these developments occur simultaneously paved the way for joyful celebration. Easter Eggs are dramatic additions to the New Life metaphor. Chocolate bunnies, Peeps, and Cadbury eggs are the logical commercializations of a sacred event.
This is not to condemn or protest Easter Egg Hunts, or chocolate sales (I may have a conflict of interest in the chocolate matter—due to my proclivity for chocolate). This tome is to put things into perspective. We are careful to teach our children the safe, proper way to use fire, and we monitor it carefully. In terms of our theology (read “faith”) we tend to be lax if not ignorant. Santa Claus is not God. Easter for Christians, is not based on colored eggs, chocolate bunnies, Peeps, nor even Easter Egg Hunts—although the celebration emerged from a plethora of traditions. Holy Week, preceding Easter, helps to focus attention on the heart of the day.
Just as we teach our children life’s realities at appropriate ages, in like manner, we teach faith. Early on, we sing, “Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world. Red, and, yellow, black and white, they are precious in his sight…” As they grow older, we are confronted with the need to teach them to respect, not ridicule, those with disabilities, or of a different color, or those less fortunate. We teach love and caring on a higher level. It’s a little like the myth of the sunrise; almost everyone knows the sun does not rise—it is the earth rotating around the sun. But who wants to say “Oh! Look what a beautiful Earth Rotation!” We learn incrementally—and learn well if taught at appropriate levels of comprehension.
What more can be said, as we peer out of the sadness of brokenness, to discover Hope and the New Life God brings!! HE IS RISEN! Hope reigns, We thrive under the sovranties of Joy !
©Copyright 2024 Willis H. Moore