Dear friends in Christ,
Christ is risen! The Lord is risen indeed!
The beginning of Lent season is marked with ashes; to some Christian traditions in the Sign of the Cross, a reminder that we are going to die, all of us, sooner or later. Now, at the Easter celebrations, those ashes are washed away with the joy of the resurrected Jesus Christ; being washed in His blood. We are the new creation, just as the Apostle Paul writes, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2Cor. 5:17). Death no longer has a claim on us.
Heaven’s doors are open to us. Eternal life in time and abundant life now is ours through the gifts of Easter light, life and resurrection.
So, how do we choose to live? Like Him, we choose to live for others; that is the model toward which we strive each day and every day. This year, Easter season has come across the COVID-19 Pandemic whereby millions of people experience restrictions which they never have come across before. Many people are suddenly out of their jobs and do not know how to earn their living. There is great anxiety as we hear of daily news from some countries about people dying from the disease. From the hymn “What a friend we have in Jesus”, we have these encouraging words, ‘Jesus knows our every weakness, take it to the Lord in Prayer.”
Our loving and caring God knows pains, and this is a great comfort and consolation when we have to go across this shocking and disturbing period of time. Let us adhere to all the medical instructions and take every possible precaution. Above all, “Cast your burdens on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.” (Psalms 55:22).
Christ has loved us beyond our imaginations. Let us reflect on His love during Easter celebrations by opening our eyes for the weakest among us in our neighborhoods, feeding the hungry, visiting and helping the sick; and comforting the bereaved.
May the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, guard our hearts and our minds as we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ!
Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed.
May your hearts be full of joy this Easter day and always.
Amen.
Pastor J.Mlaki