Jesus tried to teach us this more than once. What he told us to do in remembrance of him was to share a meal. To break bread, sit down and eat.
I'll admit it: I was more excited about the return of "Doctor Who" than about Easter. Some may say this makes me a poor Christian, but in the past few years it has been in this story of a self-proclaimed madman with a box that I have encountered the most meaningful depictions of the divine.
As I left church following yesterday's service, my heart was filled to overflowing with gratitude and joy. By Monday morning the warm glow of joy and celebration was only a memory as I looked at my schedule and my longer than normal to do list.
When I hear that phase I'm more likely to think of a service that wasn't on Easter, a funeral for a guy who died too young and had insisted that no matter when death came, we were to sing "Jesus lives!"
Eastern Orthodox icons of the resurrection do not show risen Jesus alone. Instead, they show Jesus reaching down to grasp Adam and Eve and pull them also from their tombs. Jesus is yanking them bald headed.
Here comes Peter Cottontail, hopping down the bunny trail... And what does that cute fluffy bunny find? Plastic eggs, fake grass and unnaturally bright-colored candy.
Bunny Bait is the Easter version of this sweet and salty holiday popcorn treat. This stuff is addictive. Don't say I didn't warn you.
It was once rumored that Peeps were indestructible. Subjecting the Eastertime confectionary to a microwave, fire, and boiling water, this is what followed,
This bread pudding, brimming with sweet pork sausage and sharp cheddar, is deeply flavored with a crisp, golden crust and tender, creamy interior.
Sometimes we choose death-in-life because we're afraid of the challenges that might come if we embraced resurrection-in-life.
As the Lenten season ends in Easter rejoicing, note what has been wrought in you this year: There is a deep hunger in our collective psyche to re-orient our lives toward life and light, healing and peace.
Those of us in the Christian tradition are mandated to love one another. Period. But Jesus pushed the issue: "You have heard it said, 'Love your neighbors and hate your enemy.' But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you..."
This year Easter will be celebrated on March 31, but in 2014 it will occur on April 20. The reason has to do with the mismatch between the periodicity of the sun and the moon and the long history of human efforts to create a reliable and consistent calendar.
How they're made, and the most popular methods to eat them.
Easter is on its way and I have concocted a gorgeous Mocktail to celebrate the season!