EMBRACING EASTER IN OUR DAILY LIVES



I am breaking away from the normal article about politics this week. No look at the movers and shakers of Enfield. No issue of great importance that needs your attention or life will stop in its tracks. No reporting on the activities of the Town Council or Board of Education dealing with budgets, taxes, and services.

Something more important is the main theme for this coming weekend. Whether you are a church attendee or not, whether you are Catholic, Protestant, or Non-denominational the Easter weekend is special because we all focus on an event that happen some 2000 years ago…the crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Churches all over town are preparing for special music and dramatic programs around the Easter theme. Church leaders are getting set for larger crowds and meeting people for the first time who may visit their church. Now you know what I have been doing as a Pastor of the Cornerstone Church….it’s been busy.

This Sunday we at Cornerstone Church will have our own celebration service at 11:00 A.M. and of course the public is invited. Check out our web site www.cornerstonechurch-ct.org for directions. We would love to meet you.

I can’t remember one Easter in my life where going to church was not part of that day’s routine. I remember seeing plays about the story of Jesus, attending concerts with music about the final days of the Lord on this earth, and Good Friday services that simply moved me to tears.

Easter is directly about God sending His son to the world to die for our sins. That was the main purpose for Jesus dying on the cross many years ago. But, is there more to it? What about the lessons he taught while walking this world. Where the death and resurrection give hope of eternal life, Jesus example of His life gives us directions to how to live our lives while sharing this planet with others.

That brings me to one lesson Jesus taught that I believe is worth following. Yes, of course there are countless teachings of Jesus that are valuable, but for this short article I just chose one that I think helps us care for mankind a little better.

The scripture records Jesus stating “And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded."(Matthew 10:42)

After years of training in college and seminary and almost twenty-five years as an ordained Minister I could spend my time sharing with you the deeper, theological meaning of this passage. However, I want to simply take the words and apply them to how we conduct our lives on an everyday basis.

Therefore, I gain from the words of Jesus to do even the little things to care for the poor, down trodden and hurting of this world. You don’t have to be rich to give to the welfare of the needy. Your gift does not have to be noticeable to the world because of amount you give.

It is the reason you give that is the important part of giving. It is you and I wanting to lift others up who do not have much in this world. It is determining that you will do what ever you can to make certain others know you care.

I recently joined the Enfield Rotary Club. It wasn’t that needed more to do or was lacking in involvement in the community. It was because of one of the purposes of this organization, which is helping the helpless.

Since I have been attending there have been two presentations about the need for clean water in the worlds more undeveloped countries. Seeing the pictures of people, many who are children, lacking in clean water made me think about the words of Jesus. There is no greater cause then bringing clean water to the poorest nations of this world.

Something that we all take for granted, as a normal part of living, is like the purest gold to many you share this great planet. Although Rotary is not a religious organization, it does take on the spiritual call to better the lives of others. I am glad I am a part of it.

I sit here early in the morning writing this article drinking my morning coffee. I soon will head to the gym to exercise and I will grab a bottle water on the way out the door. Later I will hit a restaurant for lunch where the wait staff will refill my water glass even before it gets half-empty.

All of which I will not even think about in my busy day. However, what I assume will be there whenever I need it, others in poor nations, would sell all their worldly goods to have access to this water.

It makes you think…or it should! So celebrate Easter this Sunday. Celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. But also embrace His teachings to care for a world that has been forgotten so easily.

Greg Stokes