EASTER GIVES US HOPE FOR LIFE'S DARKEST DAYS

In a world where violence and hatred are too common, Easter provides a timely reminder. There is beauty and hope around us ... if only we take time to look.

More than any other occasion, Easter speaks to the very essence of hope. Despite its name, Good Friday marked a day of disaster for those first Christians. The ministry of Jesus Christ seemed to wither with the sunlight that day nearly 2,000 years ago. But then came Easter morning, and he walked again among men. Those early believers learned that faith and hope could indeed move mountains. It's a belief we carry with us today.

It's that hope of a better tomorrow that carries us through our toughest days and these days can be very trying. Many of us face personal tragedies that deplete our hope. Others are disheartened by the world at large from the atrocities in Bosnia, to the starvation in Somalia, to the brutality and murder on our streets.

But we must remember that the world when Jesus walked among us was not so different. There was war, pestilence, hunger and racism. But the Son of God found good among the evil. And more often than not, he found good in the hearts of outcasts and unlikely heroes.

Hope and patience can open doors of great possibilities. A few years ago, nuclear confrontation seemed imminent. But the great Soviet Union crumbled. Who would have presumed even five years ago that democracy would have taken hold in Russia? Only those with hope and faith.

Perhaps more disturbing about the state of the world is the state of religion. In some corners of the world and this nation, religion has become politically incorrect. Not only has it become illegal to pray in school, but school-sponsored baccalaureates can no longer include non-denominational invocations. For a country founded on freedom of religion, the United States seems to be moving to free itself of religion. Can we wonder why violence and family breakdowns have escalated?

But amid the colored eggs and chocolate bunnies, the meaning of Easter shines through. Nearly 2,000 years ago, the Son of God walked among mortal men. He gave us a message that fills our hearts with wonder and good will. For his ministry, Jesus Christ was crucified at Calvary a slow and torturous death on a cross. But his final words were ones of forgiveness. And on that first Easter, he returned from the dead and told us of a wonderful salvation. For those who believe and hope, all things are possible. It's the message of Easter we can carry with us throughout the year.