EASTER 2005	Archive
Lent and Easter belong together and yet they also seem to be very much in contrast. The austerity of Lent, the passion of Christ and the joy of Easter. Sometimes we may feel that before we can enjoy Easter, we first have to ‘share’ in Christ’s passion. What is the reason that we observe Lent and fasting? It is certainly biblical and Jesus tells us in so many words to fast, but do we feel that we are going through the effort in order that we will receive a reward at the end? The real joy of Easter is the forgiveness of our sins, the ultimate love of God for us, which is unconditional. However, we do not need to ‘earn’ his forgiveness and love, because we have already received it and continue to receive it. Maybe we would do better to think about this in terms of healing and understanding of our own brokenness (and that is difficult enough to think about.) Once we have acknowledged that things went wrong in our lives, we can ask God to forgive and forget. We will then feel free from the pain of the guilt feeling. But, can we forgive ourselves for what went really wrong in our lives, even when we have repented? Have we forgotten that terrible mistake that we made some twenty years ago? Or do we still agonize over it? I believe that God has forgiven us and even forgotten about it. We need to receive that forgiveness and take it into our hearts and trust God’s love. Lent and Easter are above all times to concentrate on God’s love, rather than on our own sins, because God has a short memory when it comes to our shortcomings for which we have repented, and, because we have the promise that is the joy of Easter: the assurance of God’s abundant love for each one of us that we rejoice in and celebrate on Easter Day. I wish everyone a happy and blessed Easter, full of God’s love for us. Alja

EASTER 2005

Archive

Lent and Easter belong together and yet they also seem to be very much in contrast. The austerity of Lent, the passion of Christ and the joy of Easter.

Sometimes we may feel that before we can enjoy Easter, we first have to ‘share’ in Christ’s passion. What is the reason that we observe Lent and fasting?

It is certainly biblical and Jesus tells us in so many words to fast, but do we feel that we are going through the effort in order that we will receive a reward at the end?

The real joy of Easter is the forgiveness of our sins, the ultimate love of God for us, which is unconditional. However, we do not need to ‘earn’ his forgiveness and love, because we have already received it and continue to receive it.

Maybe we would do better to think about this in terms of healing and understanding of our own brokenness (and that is difficult enough to think about.) Once we have acknowledged that things went wrong in our lives, we can ask God to forgive and forget. We will then feel free from the pain of the guilt feeling. But, can we forgive ourselves for what went really wrong in our lives, even when we have repented? Have we forgotten that terrible mistake that we made some twenty years ago? Or do we still agonize over it?

I believe that God has forgiven us and even forgotten about it. We need to receive that forgiveness and take it into our hearts and trust God’s love.

Lent and Easter are above all times to concentrate on God’s love, rather than on our own sins, because God has a short memory when it comes to our shortcomings for which we have repented, and, because we have the promise that is the joy of Easter: the assurance of God’s abundant love for each one of us that we rejoice in and celebrate on Easter Day.

I wish everyone a happy and blessed Easter, full of God’s love for us.

Alja