Easter is a day to reflect and pray, clergy say
To Christians around the world, the day that Jesus rose from the dead is known as Easter Sunday.
Easter, or Resurrection Sunday, is a Christian holiday commemorating the day Christ Jesus died to save humanity from its sins. The New Testament says it happened on the third day of Jesus’ burial following his crucifixion by the Romans at Calvary. Easter marks the end of Lent, the 40-day period of fasting and penance.
Congregations celebrate the holiday as a way of forgiveness for their sins. It is also celebrated by Orthodox Christians who follow the Roman calendar on April 24.
According to the Rev. Jacob McDaniel from St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Schererville, this Easter can represent a perfect union with God.
“We celebrate being in heaven with God,” McDaniel said.
“To many that means finding our loved ones and spending eternity with God, but it means more than that,” he said. “I think it’s the promise of Jesus who took all of our sins unto himself.
“Indeed, in the midst of hopelessness, all of our desires will fade in comparison to this life in heaven.”
The same point of view is held by the Rev. Marko Matic, pastor of St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church in Merrillville.
“We live in a difficult world, with wars in places like Ukraine and Syria,” Matic said. “The best thing we can do is have compassion for each other and pray for each other.”
Matic, who hails from Sabac in Serbia, said during the holy season people can bring their families together and then that love will spread throughout the world.
The best thing to fix the world is to fix ourselves, said Matic. McDaniel agreed.
“Eye has not seen and ear has not heard the things that God has prepared for those who love him,” McDaniel said, quoting 1 Corinthians.