The married life
“Jerusalem! Jerusalem!” The Lebanese choir sang with great enthusiasm on Easter Sunday. Singing off-key, the music made me wince; but the joy of the Resurrection was very apparent.
Easter is a time of joy and celebration. After a long, hard Lent, the Easter season is a time to look forward to.
Each year when I was growing up, our family would go to the South Carolina coast for Easter weekend. After a winter of cool weather and overcast skies, it was our first exposure to the warmth of the sun and the beauty of the beach.
We would walk the shoreline for hours and feel once again the sand beneath our feet. Unlike in Hawaii, the water was too cold to swim in yet, but it was lovely to behold and we waded in the surf. Eager to be outdoors, we spent long hours in the sun.
By the time we attended Mass on Easter Sunday much of the family was sunburned and dehydrated. Our large family filed into the small seaside church, whose congregation was largely Lebanese American. The church was packed; everyone was dressed finely; and the singing reverberated throughout, much like a Samoan choir, making a lasting impression.
After Mass we returned to the beach house for a big breakfast, which dad always cooked, and jellybeans from our Easter baskets.
Easter is a time to celebrate. After a long, hard Lent, Easter is a time to rejoice.
“Burst into songs of joy together,
You ruins of Jerusalem,
For the Lord has comforted his people,
He has redeemed Jerusalem.” (Is. 52:8-9)
Easter season is also a time of hope. In our parish Bible study I recently learned that when the temple in Jerusalem was being restored, not everyone was happy.
“But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy.” (Ezra 3:12)
The older folks wept because the restored temple in Jerusalem was not to be as grand in size and appearance as the original which was built during Solomon’s time. And the elders remembered the grandeur of the original temple.
In a similar vein, many of us are dismayed when we remember how things used to be compared with our current societal trends. It causes one to be concerned for the future, especially for our children and grandchildren.
But, in speaking of the renewed Jerusalem, the prophet Haggai said, “‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty.” (Haggai 2:9)
This prophecy concerning Jerusalem was fulfilled when Jesus himself entered the temple. True glory rests in God’s presence. And the Lord is present with us today and with our loved ones now. This is our hope and cause for Easter joy.
Christ is risen! He is truly risen, and his presence is with us now, and through eternity. Happy Easter season!
