Easter is more than a long weekend

In case you’re busy packing for the long weekend holiday, it might be a good idea to reflect on the reason you’re getting those days off in the first place—as News Five’s Ann-Marie Williams did today.

Ann-Marie Williams
Holy week is the last week of lent when we last follow Jesus from his triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday to his death on Good Friday in preparation for his rising from the dead on Easter Sunday.

Linda Moguel, Asst. Priest, St. Mary’s Parish
“After he enters Jerusalem and goes into the temple and drive the money changers out using a whip, a whip to drive them out, he then moves on to his encounter with his disciples as they sit at the table and they have what as known as The Last Supper instituting what we celebrate as the holy communion. Sharing his body and his blood at the altar was at that time sharing of bread and dipping in the common bowl. It is also that time that he passes the sop, as it is called in the scriptures, to the one who would betray him.”

Judas later betrayed Jesus and if that weren’t enough Jesus was also arrested and tried. At this time his disciples deserted him.

Linda Moguel
“I want to get to the Pilate part because he was a man who had it in his power to release Jesus but, like many persons in authority, they do not want to take responsibility for their actions so they pass it on to other people and go with the status quo—they say no, then I will say no—and we see it happen so often. But he could have done something about it but maybe when we think of it that was the way it had to go because Jesus was destined to be crucified so that he could bring the world salvation.”

Ann-Marie Williams
“It’s like a piece of foreshadowing.”

Linda Moguel
“That’s foreshadowing yes, very much so.”

Pastor Dan White serves at St. Martin de Porres Parish in Lake Independence.

Pastor Dan White, Parish Priest, St. Martin de Porres
“One of the things we do here at St. Martins that’s very popular is we do the stations of the cross in the neighbourhood. And it’s a way for us to get in touch, to bring the church out into the neighbourhood and people participate in that. I also say in this neighbourhood, where there has been a great deal of suffering and death and violence recently that makes it very real. And so we as Christians worship a God who suffered, who died very violently a brutal death and so it’s our way of saying our God is sharing in this and it’s our way of saying to the neighbourhood that we are here, the church is here for them and that death and violence and brutality are not the end.”

As Belizeans take their four day sojourn during this holy season, White wants them to take in a little bit of the good news.

Pastor Dan White
“There’s churches all over Belize. There’s churches at the cayes, there churches out district. Wherever you want to go you’re going to find a church. So don’t use that as an excuse and it’s a wonderful time to experience a faith community that may be different from what you’re used to worshipping in and that’s a good thing because we’re all one body of Christ.”

And in the body of Christ, Easter Sunday is a significant day, says Horace Hector, Superintendent Minister at Wesley Methodist Church.

Rev. Horace Hector, Supt. Minister Wesley Methodist
“It is the triumph over all that is bad, evil in the world. When Jesus was crucified on Good Friday everyone thought that was the end of it. The disciples themselves who had followed him for three years doubted. They were in despair but then comes Easter morning when the women went to the tomb and found the grave empty and went with the good news, he is alive, so told them by the angel whom they met in the empty tomb.”

Linda Moguel
“Because he lives, we live. Halleluiah the Lord is risen indeed, the light of the world has come into the darkness.”

But there’s more to Easter than just the religious aspects.

Linda Moguel
“We have Easter eggs, for example, this has its own symbolism. Out of the egg comes new life and Jesus’ resurrection gives us and brings to the world new life. The lilies, Easter lilies, again you can see the bobs they are planted and for a long time they are in the earth, they are nurtured and then at Easter—hence the Easter lily tradition—they burst into flower.”

Ann-Marie Williams
“It’s also a renewal of Spring.”

Linda Moguel
“Okay, yes getting into that; the Springtime, new life again when things begin to be born and everything begins to give off fruit and there’s joy.”

And it’s that joy and salvation that we celebrate at this time of year. Ann-Marie Williams for News Five.