The Easter message needs to be told louder than ever this year

When I was a kid, the most exciting time of the year was Christmas

time. Each year, I couldn’t wait for Christmas. Sure, I loved the

gifts, but I couldn’t wait to celebrate Jesus’ birthday.

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 found a hat to match the dress. And, I

never understood why we celebrated Easter.

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

Images of death and war bombard our televisions and newsstands. 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 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 thank God for that! 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 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 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.