As the daffodils and hyacinths poke their way through the cold ground on the blustery shores of Lake Erie, we are reminded once again that spring is a season of renewal and new life.
It is no accident that both the Jewish observance of Passover and the Christian celebration of Easter come in the spring of the year. Passover is the celebration of the freedom from slavery that the Israelites experienced after 400 years of bondage in a foreign land.
It is a feast of gratitude to God, as well as an opportunity to look to the future filled with new hope as a free people. As the Passover meal is shared, each participant asks him/herself what this freedom means for their own future and for future of the entire human community.
Easter celebrates the reality that love can conquer hate, hope can win over fear and life can indeed triumph over death. Christians believe that Jesus’ resurrection opens new possibilities for all people.