Music of Holy Week

JESUS WHO?

For me, Easter is the most important day of the Christian calendar.

Without it Christmas would have little meaning. It would be reduced to a secular winter holiday, that for many it already is. At best it would be a note on a calendar that marks December 25th as the day to remember a man named Jesus.

Some curious kid might ask, "Hey, Mom, who is this Jesus on my calendar?" Mom might say, "I don't remember. Look him up." Upon researching one might find that Jesus was a nice guy, a little different but nice. Some people liked him and others did not. What made him remembered was that he offered a new way of treating people, a new way of looking at life. He promised eternal life. He wanted people to feel closer to God. This life style worked for many, but the government thought that he was dangerous and that he might want to take over; after all he said that he was the Son of God. Even some religious people felt threatened by his authority. He was crucified and that was that.

But for those of us that believe in the man that called himself the Christ, the Son of God, His story did not end with His crucifixion, for Easter is the promise. The promise of eternal life in a world that is so incredibly wonderful and beautiful. A place where everyone respects others and treats them accordingly.A place where all is well. A perfect place where God's love will be the atmosphere that we live in.

To some extent I can experience Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday. We all have felt sorrow, loss, regrets, pain, unfairness. But Easter is beyond my grasp of truly understanding. I do not know anyone that has risen from the dead. I am glad that I do not have to take a test explaining it. All I have to do is believe, and believe I do.

Neither the best sermon nor the most glorious music can fully express the wonder, the grandeur, the holiness of the Easter experience and promise. Perhaps Handel's Hallelujah Chorus comes the closest to giving me the feeling that I want to have on Easter morning, on every morning - that our God, our Messiah can over come all, that our God is forever and ever.

A Happy Easter to you.