13 FOR CHRISTIANS, Easter Sunday on April 17 will be a culmination of 40 days of Lent marked with fasting and penitence. This season includes HolyWeek with its mix of hailing Jesus as King, the Eucharist, betrayal, denial, false trial, death by crucifixion, burial in another person’s sepulchre, and the triumphant resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Easter is definitely the rich highpoint of the annual Christian calendar. Quintessentially the bible says, ‘If Christ be not raised from the dead, then our faith is worthless’. As with Christmas, the origin and practice of Easter is contested - some associate it with paganism. Some historians suggest that the celebration of Easter originates in the second century; however, it later attracted features leading to today’s understanding as a religious festival and a secular holiday season, with celebrations involving hot crust buns, Easter eggs, and Easter rabbits, to name a few. For me, though, Easter offers insights into ways of making sense of the times in which we live. Events in the life of Jesus of Nazareth occurring around 30 AD, remind us of the suffering endured by the Jewish people under empirical Roman rule. Jesus belonged to a people who hoped for the appearance of a long-awaited liberator from the oppression of foreign rule. As I write, the people of Ukraine are defending themselves from the threat of external forces, resulting in incessant bombings, destruction and death. Nor is Ukraine alone, since in recent years we have become acquainted with similar scenes in Afghanistan, Bosnia, Iraq, Syria, Yemen and scores of other sites of conflicts, including international terrorism. That God chose to become incarnate in the God-man Jesus in a context of conflict and foreign rule suggests that Easter reminds us that suffering is part of the human experience. Not because God designed it so, but because fallen humanity seems to like lording it over others, oppressing them for profit; creating war instead of peace. Jesus in his sermon on the mount said, ‘Blessed are the peacemakers’. If you’re like me, you sometimes ask God whatever happened to the interventionist deity evident in the Old Testament, and also evident in the New Testament, for example, at the resurrection of Jesus. Did the biblical scribes project an interventionist God at the expense of the part played by natural forces and divinely inspired humans? GOSPEL OF SALVATION Jesus’ message to us highlights our role when he says, ‘Go into all the world with his liberating gospel of salvation’. Then while on the cross, he told one of his disciples to take care of his mother, Mary. The Gospels show us that instead of asking where is God in times of trouble, natural disasters, or war, we might instead ask what is God inspiring me/us to do alone or with others to help change circumstances, especially for those who suffer? An old song about Jesus goes, ‘everywhere he went, he was doing good; he had the attitude to feed the multitude, everywhere he went.’ So should we his disciples made in the divine image and likeness. Easter, therefore, raises our awareness that there is a lot of violence and suffering in the world, sometimes close to us, sometimes involving us. To follow Jesus’ example is to shun the easy and comfortable way and to join the mourners, and the poor and the oppressed, to join those who can’t afford to procure their own grave, and to help them lift their eyes in hope to envision a better present and future in which war gives way to peace, oppression gives way to liberation, poverty gives way to flourishing and wealth, death gives way to resurrection and life at the right hand of God in power over adversity. This is not just wishful thinking this Eastertide, this is the hope at the heart of the Easter story of suffering, death and resurrection. This is why we work together with each other and with God in Jesus to do good for the human family and in service and praise to God. Happy Easter! Bishop Dr Joe Aldred, National Church Leaders Forum, honorary research Fellow, Roehampton University Easter reminds us of the suffering Jesus endured AS WE approach the Easter Season 2022, I would like to extend greetings and warm wishes to you and your families during this joyous and celebratory period on behalf of the Jamaican community in Georgia. The past two years have proven to be more challenging than any of us had expected, and this year, I am especially grateful to have seen so many of you in person again. As we all continue to navigate the challenges around the COVID19 pandemic, our teammembers appreciate your support, partnership and, of course, friendship. Our Jamaican community in Georgia looks forward to more time spent together with friends, families, and colleagues. Congratulations to the Jamaica Gleaner/USA for keeping us informed throughout this challenging period and beyond. We appreciate your features of the accomplishments of Jamaican Americans, Jamaican businesses and partners of Jamaica. All your articles have been very professional, of high standards, informative and enjoyable. This combination sets the Jamaica Gleaner apart from most publications. On behalf of the Jamaican community in Atlanta, it is a great honour and privilege to extend warm regards and to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Independence of our homeland, Jamaica. Serving our community for the past four years has been a fulfilling and rewarding experience. The highlight of this year includedmeeting and interacting with fellow Jamaicans at various community outreach meetings, events with the use of cutting-edge technology, attending various organisation functions, visiting those in hospitals and welcoming Jamaican dignitaries at the Atlanta airport. Thanks to the Gleaner for your contribution to the success of our Jamaican community. We join you in “Re-igniting a Nation for Greatness”. Happy Easter! Sincerely, Dr. Elaine Grant-Bryan Honorary Consul for Jamaica in Atlanta Happy Easter! MESSAGE A joyous and celebratory period Bishop Dr Joe Aldred THE WEEKLY GLEANER | APRIL 4 - 30, 2022 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS
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