We have recently celebrated the most solemn feast of Easter. It’s the day when our Lord promised to resurrect to eternal life all those who believe in Him. Going about our daily lives, as humans we are susceptible to fall into temptation and sin. This in turn leads us on to feelings of compunction and in doing so, it can make us despise ourselves. It would sound foolish that Christ chose to die on the cross for you and me. But then we still see tremendous suffering in this world to this day. How then would Christ’s death and resurrection on the cross offer sufficient consolation to our grief and pain?
The culmination of His death involved forty days of fasting and praying. We can juxtapose this to our lives as well. When we want to reap the benefits of our labour, we tirelessly persevere to accomplish our goal. Some might look out for loopholes and even impede the path of the self righteous while others will work in all earnestly to achieve the same. It doesn’t matter to some, how they reach their destination as long as they get there. In doing so, this has made us so self-centred that we are blindfolded to the misery of this world.
Christ offers us an opportunity to repent of our sinful ways. We no longer have to perish in doubt, denial, self pity or hold on to feelings of remorse. Even if another continues to withhold grudge against us, rest assured that His resurrection offers us hope to be better human beings. Forgiving another for the misery that they have brought upon us might seem an uphill task. Inspite of Jesus knowing that His apostles would betray Him, still chose to be in their company. Some of them fell asleep at the Mount of Olives while He was on His knees praying in anguish and exhausted in sorrow. He experienced fear. His sweat appeared like drops of blood falling to the ground. At times we too become like the apostles denying Jesus through our misdeeds and failing to renounce our surreptitious ways. In order to be obedient to God’s commandments will have us surmounted by temptations and criticism. It takes immense guts to live a virtuous life.
Very few among us find the courage to carry the weight of our own crosses and be witnesses to His infinite love. As humans, we are oblivious to the scourging that we cause to the emotionally and physically inept as a result of the hustle and ignorance of our iniquities. Let us offer hope and encouragement to this world that so desperately seeks it. Christ did not abandon us in his death but instead He promised to live amongst us through His glorious resurrection.
