Happy Easter! Christ is risen…He is risen indeed! Easter is a day for great rejoicing. So to get us in a joyful mood, why not share some light-hearted jokes?
Why are Easter bunnies more tired when Easter's in April? —Because they’ve just finished a long March.
Why did the Easter egg hide?—He was a little chicken!
What do rabbits say before they eat?—“Lettuce pray.”
Why did Jesus appear to women first after the resurrection?—He wanted to be sure the news spread quickly.
Don’t crucify me for the last joke, I couldn’t find many good ones, but we all know men can talk…just look at me and how long I preach, or just look at Fr. Francis or Fr. Andrew in general!
To jump (bunny-hop?) off these jokes, Easter is not a time to be tired about or chicken in our faith, but instead a time to “Let us pray” in thanksgiving and praise to God and a time to share the good news that Jesus is risen! Why are we afraid to speak about Jesus and the joy he brings us? Who else has risen from the grave? What is better than the good news that sin, death, and the grave are not the final word, but instead the WORD is JESUS who conquers all these things, and makes a way for us to follow him to eternal life?
Our world needs Jesus! We need Jesus! Jesus saves us from sin and death. He brings new life. Faith is about joy in the freedom and love Jesus offers us. What was more terrible and evil than arresting Jesus who was innocent and who never harmed anyone but instead healed and lifted up the poor and lowly. Jesus was then brutally beaten, scourged, mocked, crowned with thorns, and then crucified. Jesus who is God made flesh was killed and then buried. This was the greatest evil ever done! Yet, God in his great power, mercy, and love, turned this all around to bring about the greatest good ever. Jesus rose from the grave, forgave, and made a way for us to follow him to eternal life and joy. If God can turn such evil into such good, then why not for us in our lives too? Why don’t we offer our lives to God in trust? Why do we continue to think we are okay, we can handle things on our own, that we don’t need much of God in our lives?
Easter, the Resurrection of Jesus, changes everything! Our lives need to change too. Let us trade our sorrows and pains for the joy and peace Jesus gives. Happy Easter to you all.
Peace,
Fr. Greg