Ernie
Harwell was the voice of the Detroit Tigers. He would begin every baseball
season by quoting from the Bible – The Song of Songs:
For,
lo, the winter is past,
The
rain is over and gone;
The
flowers appear on the earth;
The
time of singing of birds is come,
And
the voice of the turtle is heard in our land.
There
are other signs of new beginnings:
Easter
Baskets – the Lenten fast is over – time to eat!
Easter
Eggs with festive colors – like chicks, Christ has come out of the tomb
Easter
bunnies – spring babies – new life
Easter
outfits and Easter parade – new garments received by newly baptized
All
these signs point to one thing – the Resurrection.
Amazingly
– the one who was dead now lives. How can this be?
What
is the Resurrection?
-
Some
say it is a metaphor – Jesus was still alive in their hearts and minds. He
lives on in memory.
-
Some
– another way to speak of nature after the death of winter, like caterpillars
to butterflies and frozen earth to green shoots.
-
Some
– his legacy lives on. Jesus will live on, just like the writings of
Shakespeare on the music of Beethoven.
Well,
yes, but this is NOT how the early disciples remembered it - They saw him – they ate with him, they drank
with him. Come here Thomas – put your fingers into the nail marks, your hand
into my side.
You
might say – this cannot be true - I only believe in science – there can be no
miracles.
Check
out recent movie based on a true story “Miracles from Heaven”
Young
Anna has a rare digestive disorder. Her mother Christy is searching for a
solution. In a freak accident Anna falls into a tree and is there for 5 hours
as they try to rescue her. Afterward –
they brought Anna to Boston’s Children’s Hospital – completely cured with no
explanation!
Christy
is played by Jen Garner. She grew up going to church. When she moved to L.A.,
going to church was not part of the culture.
Well, she and her children are back at church each week. Another
miracle?
Of
course, for us, the greatest miracle is the Resurrection!
-
Where
there was death, now there is life!
-
Where
there was despair – now hope
-
Where
sorrow – joy
-
Where
darkness – light.
For, lo, the winter is past,
The
rain is over and gone;
The
flowers appear on the earth;
The
time of singing of birds is come,
And
the voice of the turtle is heard in our land & Christ is Risen from the
Dead! Happy Easter!!!!
