The Easter message needs to be heard especially loud this year

When I was a kid, I couldn’t wait for Christmas. I loved the tastes,

smells and sights of the season. Sure, I loved the gifts, but I

couldn’t wait to celebrate Jesus’ birthday.

However, I never really looked forward to Easter. I liked the time

off school and the candy, but I never liked having to get all dressed

up for Easter Sunday. My mom would always pick out the most flowered

and pastel dress she could find, and she usually had a hat to match

the dress. And I never got why we celebrated Easter.

This year, I get why we celebrate Easter. Our world is in turmoil.

If you want to get away from all the news coverage of the war, you

have to stick your head in the sand. Easter is on its way, but it

seems that this year, it’s taking a long time to get here. Easter is

the day in the church when we celebrate the raising of Jesus Christ

from the dead, three days after his crucifixion. Easter celebrates

the victory of Jesus Christ over death and evil. Easter is the ground

of our hope -- that sin and death don’t have the final word, but life

and love in Christ is God’s last word.

Charles Wesley wrote in his Easter hymn, Christ the Lord is Risen

Today, “Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia! Fought the fight,

the battle won, Alleluia!”

God’s love in Christ Jesus redeemed each and every one of us on

that Easter morning and Christ fought the battle of death for all of

us.

Praise the Lord! War and hate cannot drown out the work of love in

the resurrection. Our world needs the Easter message told loud this

year -- maybe louder than ever. The life and love of Jesus Christ

needs to be heard again and again.

So I say, “Come on Easter, hurry up and get here already!”

May Easter live in us each and every day and restore this world to

faith, hope and love, the greatest of which is love.

-- Reverend Stephanie Toon, Youth Minister

Mesa Verde United Methodist Church is located at 1701 Baker St. in

Costa Mesa. Call (714) 979-8234.