I read the newspaper this morning. There were, as far as I could tell, two items about Easter. The first was on the editorial page. The writer was an historian of religion. He told with some relish about the time his mother hopefully asked him if he believed in the resurrection. We were supposed to feel sorry for him, and pity her, that he had to tell her he didn't. He exhorted us to believe in the radical words and ideas Jesus expressed in his life, and not to focus on his death.
The second item was in the comics - Mallard Fillmore. He always honors Easter and Christmas in his strip, and I appreciate it.
And that's it. On Easter Sunday in a 'Christian' nation, in what many believe to be the most conservative part of that nation, only these two items about Easter. I take some comfort as we drive to stake conference to see the signs at the churches about the cross and the empty tomb. There are still devoted followers of Christ. They just seem to have no voice in our public media and forums.
Brother Holland reminded us that Jesus has trodden the great winepress of the wrath of God alone. In his final hours, he stood alone, betrayed by his close disciple, abandoned by the twelve, and finally, left alone by his Father, he bore his (our) heavy load and did not judge us unworthy of the sacrifice. Surely any (and that is everyone) who is worthy of that sacrifice is worthy of our respect and compassion.
You are parents, or will be parents. Elder Pearson asserted that the most important gift we can give our children is faith. He pointed out that when we are casual in our commitment to obey, we undermine that gift, that faith, in our children. And in ourselves. As I look around and see children struggling with lack of faith, it is most often the case that the parents have been casual in their church attendance, their diligence in their callings, their dedication to payment of tithing and temple attendance.
President Bailey, in our stake conference this weekend, pointed out that the end or purpose of our faith is not our prosperity or our comfort, but our sanctification. He also pointed out that we often use our faith to plead for exemption from a loss of material security, or good health, ignoring that that is really not what faith is about.
Although Jesus has trodden the winepress alone, let us stand with him now, and be his in the day when he makes up his jewels.
1 comment:
As religious groups become more vilified is it the natural tendency for people of those groups to recede from the public forum? It seems to me that there are many people who ascribe to a christian belief system however many are ok with silence on most topics. Is there a mechanism by which this group can be motivated to participate in public life? Why does this group seem to be so inclined to have their voice silenced?
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