Editorial | Saving Easter

Bun and cheese, painted eggs, lilies, chocolate and rabbits, are some of the Easter traditions that Jamaicans have embraced over the years. Easter marks the end of the Passion of Christ which begins at Lent, concluding during Holy Week, and includes Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

Symbols aside, Christians are buoyed by the belief that Jesus, Son of God, rose from the dead three days after his crucifixion, with the promise of eternal life for those who continue to abide by His teachings.

So, reflection on this holiest of seasons exposes two Easters - one in which followers of Christ celebrate His resurrection and victory over death, while others bask in a secular commemoration of a period that aligns closely with the Spring equinox and the vibrancy of hope and renewal.

Similar to the Easter story of how Jesus was crucified and buried, the world lived for a time in a tomb created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Now that the tomb has been emptied with the application of vaccines, people feel a joyful sense of relief as life gradually returns to normalcy.

Indeed, the miracle of the crucifixion and resurrection is the pillar on which the Christian religion is anchored, and provides the basis of faith and hope for believers. Thousands of Jamaicans are expected to pack churches tomorrow, in a collective act of rejoicing to mark the end of the Lenten season marked by prayers, fasting and penitence.

Yet, for all the prayers of the believers, there remain so many challenges facing this nation. The war against criminality and violence and the war against corruption are two of the most persistent evils. But there are also praedial thieves who think nothing of stealing livestock and crops in broad daylight, and scammers and smugglers who have found the way to make loads of money from illegal activities.

We are prompted to enquire: Why are there not more people exhibiting humility, non-violence, compassion, love and inclusivity, as Jesus did when he walked this earth?

This is a good time for Jamaicans to reflect on the various challenges that confront our nation in a bid to renew hope in the country’s manifestly great destiny. Indeed, this year’s Easter celebration offers another opportunity for Christians in Jamaica to reflect on its potential for greatness and decide how they can become a part of the solution.

And, even as persons prepare to join in revelry, we cannot help wondering how many times over this holiday the peace of communities will be shattered by the gunman’s bullet and the wailing of loved ones crushed by grief.

Even though recent Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) statistics point to a decline in murders, crime and violence continues to be the epidemic for which we are yet to find a cure.

For many people, the Easter story has been heard many times over, and maybe it no longer resonates. Yet, we see in this story exceptional symbols of hope. The Easter egg could be seen as a symbol of Jesus breaking out of the tomb and stepping into a new life. We read in this story about the life of a religious leader of yore who went all over teaching about equality, non-violence and love for humanity.

Easter bears a profound witness of the Resurrection story, for it provides deep stimulus to the imagination of Christians and non-Christians alike.