Holy Times-Easter Sunday in a week-Passover in a month

An Old Testament prophet stated: “Thus says the Lord: This is what I commanded my people: Listen to my voice; then I will be your God and you shall be my people. Walk in all the ways that I command you, so that you may prosper. But they obeyed not, nor did they pay heed. They walked in the hardness of their evil hearts and turned their backs, not their faces, to me.…I have sent you untiringly all my servants the prophets. Yet they have not obeyed me nor paid heed; they have stiffened their necks and done worse than their fathers.…This is the nation that does not listen to the voice of the Lord, its God, or take correction. Faithfulness has disappeared; the word itself is banished from their speech.”
The United States of America was founded (“Under God” and professes “In God We Trust”) by faith-filled people following Judeo-Christian values and principles, and they understood the need and importance of having and recognizing the presence of God in their life each and every day. Today, secular societies encourage people to be indifferent to, or to outright reject, religion or religious considerations and practices. When this occurs in a nation headed by a dictator, king, or other society controlled by a regime which will not permit the “freedom” of the practice of any religion or faith, or any “different” religion or faith, we are NOT surprised. However, when we see human life’s commencement and its value, as well as marriage, being defined by a Court of Law rather than by moral and ethical values and principles, and/or religious mores, we see a nation turning their backs to the God that blessed this country with all of its many opportunities.
The U.S. Constitution guarantees the “freedom of religion,” and not “freedom from religion.” The founders of our country, and generations past, ignored the temptation of secularism and submitted themselves to God and His greatness, and acknowledged that real freedom and liberty came from the Creator (the Lord God), and not anything that this world had authored, and surely not any monarch, elected official, dictator, court, or other government philosophy or ideology. The move to “secularism” has turned people away from God, and yet we are called and reminded to give praise and thanksgiving to our Creator, and to love our God with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength. In secular societies, man rejects God’s Greatness, with the belief that “man” can, and should, control his own destiny, and that “he (man) knows” better, than our Creator, what is in his best interests. The sin of “pride” prevents man from being humble enough to submit to the love and caring of his Creator. The prophet foretold that there were consequences for the failure to “listen to my voice.”
The Christian “Holy Week” began on Sunday, March 20. Each year, this period of time reminds Christians of the Life and Passion of Jesus Christ, (including Holy Thursday and Good Friday), and His Resurrection from the Dead on Easter Sunday…. In approximately a month, on Friday, the 22nd of April, the Jewish week of Passover begins, when people of the Jewish faith commemorate the saving of the first male born in each family from the angel of death, and the freedom of the Israelites from the slavery of the Egyptians, all provided by the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Less than three months ago, on Christmas Day, Christians commemorated the birth of Jesus Christ, and the word and name Emmanuel was used, which means, “God (is) with us.” Later, in January, Epiphany was celebrated recognizing the realization or manifestation of “God in our midst ...”
Sadly, both Christians and Jews are being persecuted for their beliefs and faith in many parts of the world today. Personal attacks, assaults, and even murders have occurred to so many who, because of their Faith, are being targeted by those evil and fanatical individuals who are unwilling to accept the Faith or beliefs of another. The murders and torture of Christians and Jews in foreign lands is so sinful and evil, that no one, with a conscience, can understand or comprehend such actions by an allegedly “enlightened society.”
 The gift of life which we enjoy is the greatest gift each of us has received from God, our Creator. This is why “life”, for all, must be respected and protected at all costs, from conception to natural death. A great theologian stated many years ago that “Right is right, even if everybody is wrong; and wrong is still wrong, even if nobody is right!”
These Holy Times, (Holy Week and Passover), offer to each of us the opportunity to follow the example of Jesus Christ, who came into the world with nothing material, and left it in that same way. We can reflect, remember, and appreciate all of the many blessings which we have received in our life, and be thankful and grateful for the many times when we have been given the strength to endure those other times when we faced burdens, challenges, or obstacles in our life. Too many people will focus on the ham, lamb, dyed eggs, chocolate rabbits, and candy to celebrate a “holiday.” Too many others are still trying to find pleasure, satisfaction, and happiness in this world from power, control, wealth, position, authority, or material possessions, and have left God out of their life. We are invited and reminded, by our religious observances and beliefs, to return to God and follow the example set by His Son to live a life which gives to the Creator the praise and thanksgiving deserved, and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.
Each Christian can make this week, a real Holy Week, and a very special Easter Sunday, ( and if Jewish, prepare yourself properly for the Passover to come) by using your various talents, abilities and resources to be of service to one another, and by giving praise and thanksgiving to God and His Son. We can begin today by replacing our “vices” with “virtues.” None of us have been guaranteed an easy life without crosses to bear, but we are assured that, as we encounter the challenges, obstacles, and difficulties of life, God will never abandon, and has never abandoned, His Creation. However, His creation “has turned their backs to me, not their faces.” As the prophet also stated, “Walk in all ways that I command you, so that you may prosper.”
The “Cross of Jesus” calls each of us to be patient, tolerant, kind, courteous, loving, compassionate, merciful, and forgiving, just as our God has been with each of us in spite of our various sinfulness, weaknesses, and failures. His mercy and forgiveness for each of us is unlimited, and only a request away. Remember: “Every Saint has a past, and every Sinner has a future,” and we are called to be saints.
It has been said that “worry doesn’t empty tomorrow of its suffering; it empties today of its strength.” Those who believe in God’s presence know that: “The Will of God will NOT take you where the Grace of God will not protect you!”
May you and your family have a peaceful and fulfilling Holy Week, and a Happy and Blessed Easter ( or Passover) with a strengthened Faith, and never-ending Hope, and everlasting Love.
J.H. Campbell Jr.
jcampbell@agbr.com