Easter Monday
Reflecting on the Role of Religion in My Life
On Christian holidays, I often reflect on how the church still influences our lives today. I myself am not a member of the church or any religious denomination. However, I was baptized and raised in the Evangelical Lutheran faith as a child. What I can say for sure is that I am not an atheist.
The Passion of the Christ and the Harsh Reality of Easter
Yesterday, we watched Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ. I remember feeling a kind of shock as a child when I realized that behind the cheerful Easter eggs and fluffy chicks, there was such a cruel and harsh story. I wondered why anyone would want to celebrate and remember the worst of humanity year after year.
It’s taken me this long to understand that it’s not really about death—but about Love and Forgiveness. The same themes I’ve been sharing with you over the past few months.
Finnish Easter Traditions: Where Pagan Roots Meet the Church
Here in Finland, Easter traditions combine elements of both ancient pagan rituals and Christian church customs. In my hometown, for example, it’s common to have a Passion play where Jesus carries the cross through the central square. All these traditions coexist in harmony.
On Palm Sunday, children dress up and go from house to house with decorated willow branches, reciting rhymes to bless homes for a fresh and healthy year. This year, my niece received chocolate for her branch—and I… I have to admit, I felt (for lack of a better word) blessed.
A Different Kind of Easter – Full of Realizations
Time Spent with Others and Myself
Like many other things in my life, this Easter has been completely different from previous ones, in many ways. I’ve spent time with different families and also had time alone to philosophize about the meaning of these days.
My First Time Reading the Bible – Surprising Parallels to New Age Thought
For the first time in my life, I’ve actually sat down and read the Bible. To my surprise, it’s not that far removed from modern New Age teachings, which talk about raising your energy, connecting with the universe, and reaching out to your higher self.
The True Message of Easter: Love
Lacking better words of my own, I’ll borrow someone else’s. At the end of this post, I’ve included a picture of the greatest gesture of Love I received this Easter. Let’s flourish together 💖
“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love,
I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge,
and if I have a faith that can move mountains,
but do not have love, I am nothing.”
-Paul-
1 Corinthians 13:1–2
