Easter Sunday Thought (Updated from 4/2/2015)

"God bless each and every one of us this day as we remember the sacrifice made on our behalf, the gift of forgiveness, and the promise of everlasting life in the Kingdom of Heaven. I give thanks this day to our Lord Jesus Christ for suffering so much during those final hours in order to purchase for us this gift. I pray this, with all the humility of a sinner, in Christ's name. Amen"

-- F.A. Villari

Easter is upon us again!  It seems like just yesterday I wrote this prayer.  Hard to believe eight years have passed.  My mom is in hospital, hopefully recovering from whatever malady affects a woman approaching 90.  When I first wrote this post she was recovering from my dad's first stroke, and I was preparing to uproot my life from the Northwest, once again, and start anew, here, in the Deep South.  

I left many good friends behind, for the umpteenth time, but found new friends here, as well.  My dad and I built my new home, next door to them, a block from the beach.  I made myself busy planning the town's future, in my own humble way, with some movers and shakers at a local cigar and beer bar. When we aren't planning the future, we were solving all the world's problems while affecting absolutely no change.  As tough as that past year had been, however, I tried to keep my eye on the reality of it.

Each time life seems to surmount my ability to cope, I take a moment.  Christianity was taking hits from without and within.  But, what else is new?  At times one thinks it's an Abrahamic curse upon the faithful, kind of like guilt.  We find ourselves wandering a mysterious trail through a haunted forest as we mumble to ourselves, "Christians, Muslims, and Jews, oh my!"  God suffers us with many challenges in life, but He has also given us a scale to weigh our ability to cope.

I decided, years ago, to strive for true happiness always and in all things, regardless of my circumstances.  By all accounts, I think I have attained my goal, and my life is successful

There are those Christians among us, probably familiar with escaping to church in hopes of getting some answer from God, some tidbit of hope to make their troubles lighter.  As they kneel to pray, they look up and are confronted by the image of Christ crucified on the cross.  What troubles do we have?  What burdens are so insurmountable that we selfishly whine about them to God in a house that, in itself, flies in the face of Christ's teachings?  What more can we possibly ask of God's only begotten Son who was ridiculed, lied about, tortured, shamed, crucified, and denied, all in the name of our salvation?  What burdens can compare?  What burdens can stand up against such faith as ours?

There is nothing more we can ask of one that has given everything, for there is no greater love than to give up one's life for your fellow man.  We can ask His forgiveness for our weaknesses.  We can offer up our love and respect for His sacrifice.  We can recognize, through His rising, the very real possibility of everlasting life and the Kingdom of Heaven.  We can also admit, to God and ourselves, that none of us are perfect, and each year we will aspire to a rebirth of our faith and a realization that our burden here on earth is insignificant to the burden carried for us by Christ, our Lord, and savior.  We have been blessed with another year to make ourselves right with God and our fellow man.

So, this Sunday, say a short prayer of thanks and love.  Remember those serving to keep us safe and ask a blessing upon them.  Do not dwell on the troubles in your life and of this earth.  Instead, go out and celebrate the gift that was freely given to you; the gifts of forgiveness, life, love, and salvation.  Hug a stranger; give treats to the children and flowers to their mothers.  Forgive those who trespass against you.  Celebrate the great day.  Above all celebrate forgiveness, as Jesus celebrated it at the time of His own passing, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

But they were distressed and wept greatly. "How are we going to go out to the rest of the world to announce the good news about the Realm of the child of true Humanity?" they said. "If they did not spare him, how will they spare us?" 

Then Mary stood up. She greeted them all, addressing her brothers and sisters, "Do not weep and be distressed nor let your hearts be irresolute. For his grace will be with you all and will shelter you. Rather we should praise his greatness, for he has prepared us and made us true Human beings."

-- The Gospel of Mary

Editor's Note

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either view any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint. 

I fervently hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion, in an arena of mutual respect, concerning those opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with the United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and, finally, a senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world-renowned, Western Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research.

Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, and wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteered as the lead chaplain at a regional medical center.

Feel free to contact Pastor Tony: tolerantpastor@gmail.com