The Sunday Mail
Brian Mutembedza
EASTER season is understood differently by people depending on their background, beliefs, or even business orientation.
To others, marshmallows, bunnies and Easter eggs come to mind whenever they think about Easter.
Some are so critical to the extent of disqualifying the holiday from other Christian holidays and term it a “pagan holiday”.
In as much as we may want to delve more into the facts and truths about what is acceptable or not during this season, it is also important to major on the essence on which Easter is established.
Jesus Christ is the reason for the season.
Basically, there are very important lessons that we can draw from his suffering, death, burial and resurrection, which stands as the basis of the season.
Selflessness is probably a virtue that sums it all up.
Jesus disregarded his royal benefits choosing to offer his life for many people’s salvation.
If we take a leaf from Jesus’ book, we can have a better world to live in.
A world in which we all care about our brothers and sisters.
We are fast moving away from the spirit of selflessness as a nation.
Many people are now concerned about themselves and their children.
The importance of extended families seems to be vanishing into thin air.
As we commemorate the work of salvation, peace and reconciliation which was done by Jesus, we also have to emulate and follow after his deeds.
Back in the days, it was difficult to pass by a starving neighbour without giving a hand.
However, it is now normal.
People are preoccupied with the “even my family does not have enough” mentality.
Jesus had everything when he was in heaven, but he chose to identify with us so that we could be saved from spiritual death.
When he was on the cross, he even asked for his tormentors’ forgiveness.
His Father had all the power to destroy those who troubled Jesus but he pleaded for their forgiveness.
How many of us have been wronged and have vowed to fight back even during this Easter holiday?
Let us remember that Jesus was wounded and crucified to death, but he never said anything linked to retaliation.
He died calling for their forgiveness.
The good news is that Jesus rose on the third day after being crucified.
The special message is that we emerge victorious when we endure and forgive.
We do not benefit anything by not forgiving, but we lose the little we have.
Forgive those who wronged you. Some are angry about their leaders, spouses, children and even friends.
Release them from your heart and refreshment from God will feel your heart.
You cannot change everything that happens around you and if you fail to understand that you will always be heartbroken.
Those things that you can rectify, work towards their rectification but those which are beyond your ability leave them to God and pray that His joy may overshadow your heart.
As we do that, we need to also consider our neighbours and see if what we want rectified is also good for them or it is only for the gratification of our selfish desires.
We need to recultivate that culture of caring and sharing, which used to be part of us from time immemorial.
During this Easter and going forward let us learn to do what Jesus taught us.
He made it clear that when we do right to our neighbours we will be doing it for him instead.
How many of your neighbours are hungry, are in prison, are in hospital or are frustrated by life and you have turned a blind eye on them?
Be an agent of peace, love and unity.
This Easter holiday coincides with our country’s 42nd Independence, which also has selflessness as its outstanding tenet.
There are people who lost their lives in order for us to have this freedom and prevailing peace.
In the same vain Jesus died for the salvation of mankind.
Let us play our part as we think about our brothers and sisters.
We are our brothers’ keepers.
