04.01.25
MK’s MEDICINE
A Cheerful Heart Is Good Medicine
The exact date of Jesus' death and resurrection, recognized as Easter in the United States, is not known. It is based on the spring equinox and can occur between March 22 and April 25. (Sidebar, If you live in the Midwest like I did, Easter falling in March was an unfortunate occurrence because often, there is residual snow on the ground while kids dressed in their Easter finery hunt for eggs and candy). As Easter includes some lovely tradition, it is primarily known as the time to commemorate the death burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Having read the crucifixion story multiple times as described in the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. I am always stirred by some of the last words spoken by Jesus while he hung on the cross beaten to a bloody pulp but still had the presence of mind to utter the words, “I thirst,” which refutes all arguments that claim Jesus was not truly human. “Father forgive them for they do not know what they do,” words filled with love and mercy for humanity, and “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” these words the most telling of all regarding his humanity. I do not hide the fact that I am a believer, and I am grateful for a little old neighbor lady named Mrs. Cooley, who introduced me and a group of other pre-teens to this person called Jesus, and since that time my life has never been the same.