Be Hopefull no matter how hopeless the world is!

Today is Easter...It is a day of celebration of the event of Jesus' resurrection on the third day after his death on the cross. Love, Hope, and Joy are the themes running through the three days of the Paschal feast. In fact, it is all one whole event where Jesus ended his life by his act of surrendering his father's will and letting his enemies crucify him gruesomely. He gave a loud cry saying "It's finished and I commend my spirit to your hands" and he died. The moment of his death was the most significant moment for man and the whole creation was reconciled to God and saved from sin, and satan. The curtains in the temple tore apart doing away with the distance man felt from God. Wasn't the purpose of Jesus' birth to die ad the purpose of his death was to make us live in the light of his teachings, with a hope of resurrection until he gathers us in His Father's kingdom.

Interestingly the Gospels do not describe the event of the resurrection, but only give us signs and symbols, apparitions of the risen Lord to his disciples. We have to believe that the Lord has risen, experience his being alive, and in turn be the messengers of new hope. In his death, we have an assurance that 1. living in truth, justice and love will certainly bring many a suffering humiliation even death but there is a glorious crown of the joy awaiting us. 2. The evil people by their sinful acts bring temporary pain to the just but an unending irreversible fire of curse and death to themselves. 3. It is not only mankind but the whole creation that will journey into a glorious life with God for eternity.

One may ask if the human history after Jesus's time was any different? Man's personal social-political existence has been brimming with evil designs, with growing greed, unjust distribution, and brutality shown to the weak and the marginalized. Evil seems to prosper. Untruth seems to have the final word. Selfishness seems to be the engine and Money seems to rule supreme. But remember, Tyrants have lived and gone. Rich fools have been snapped away before they ever thought of their end. The villains who have taken the sword have died by the sword. But anyone who believes in the power of truth lives simply and humbly doing his duty and being of some help in others' lives to make it better by his love, care, concern, and compassion shall never die, even if die will live forever. As Jesus was waiting for his time, until the hour came, we too must hopefully wait for the Hour.

It is time for you and me to ask: Am I standing with Jesus? If not, I am against Him. There is no third front. One can't be indifferent to Jesus. Even If one has ever heard of his name, by his human values he takes his stand. He may not know Jesus, ut Jesus knows him and calls him, my own sheep!

Meanwhile, let us accept the gift of the risen Jesus, Peace. He had greeted whomever he met after the resurrection was Peace/ Shalome. Let us be messengers of peace in the war-torn world amidst strife-laden families and communities. Let us sow seeds of hope where there is no hope, water with our deeds of love, and hope to reap the heart of the joy of being a warrior for Christ and his kingdom.

EASTER MEANS LIFE NEVER ENDS AND LOVE NEVER DIES