Happy Easter

Monday, April 17, 2006
While growing up, I was made aware of several beliefs that "must" be followed during the holy week. Most of these beliefs are, for me, questionable if not senseless. But believe it or not, there are still a number of people here who abide by these do's and dont's. Here are some of them:

~ One shouldn't take a bath on Good Friday (Yikes!)
~ One shouldn't eat meat during the holy week (I do and I'm still in one piece)
~ One shouldn't be happy during the holy week, especially on Good Friday and Black Saturday (So I have to wear a long face for 48 hours)
~ One shouldn't be doing fun activities during the holy week (This is why I used to hate holy week a lot)
~ One shouldn't get wounded on Good Friday or it won't heal until the next holy week (This is crazy!)

Not that I have any intention to step on anybody's foot here but if I did, I'm sorry. I used to dread holy week but not anymore. Now, I love holy week and this is why I do.

The Father gave His only Son to die on the cross to redeem us, to save us from eternal death. That is how much love He has for us. Jesus Christ died only once and now He lives. Because of this, we have all the reasons to rejoice. Now that I understand this truth, I no longer have to wear a long face during the holy week. I can now engage in fun activities because He lives! I use these days to relax, reflect and have fun! I think you should too. HAPPY EASTER!!!




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My Redeemer Lives


I know he rescued my soul

His blood has covered my sin
I believe, I believe

My shame He's taken away
My pain is healed in his name
I believe, I believe

I'll raise a banner
'Cause my Lord has conquered the grave

My Redeemer lives, my Redeemer lives
My Redeemer lives, my Redeemer lives

You Lift my burdens
I'll rise with You
I'm dancing on this mountain top to see your kingdom come.


24 comments:

Anonymous said...

I hope your Easter was a happy and blessed one.
He lives!!! That is something to rejoice in.

Some of those do's and dont's sound familiar:-)
I vaguely remember something about not having fun and being happy. Definitely the one about not eating meat on Good Friday. Not just Good Friday, any Friday! We had fish on Fridays. I didn't mind, I love fish:-)

Love you, girl.

God's Grace.

Anonymous said...

that's a good habit though. i love fish and veggies. luv yah too, mamu! happy easter!

Anonymous said...

Let me get my arms into this hug girls. ;-)

Great thoughts Pia. He lives!

Anonymous said...

hope you had a great Easter! If I grew up under those conditions I would dread Holy Week too. Especially the happy and fun part. Those are all superstitions anyway. Holy Week is to be celebrated over what happend not feared. :-) Have a great week, Pia! Love the song btw, it's one of our church's favorite praise and worship songs.

Anonymous said...

Hi Pia! Hope you had a wonderful Easter. That song is one of my favorites too!

Anonymous said...

Those rules remind me of the ceremonial traditions of the Elders that Jesus had to contend with.

Sometimes, I ALMOST think I was fortunate to grow up as a pagan.

Anonymous said...

He lives!
Hallelujah!

Shall we celebrate it with fruits and veggies in the lovely company of your Mamu and my lieve zus? HaHaHa!

Luv Ya, Pia!!!

Anonymous said...

Trust you had a great Easter and Holy Week with smiles and laughters (as opposed to wear a long face).Hey My Redeermer Lives is one of my favourite songs :)

Anonymous said...

KC: (((HUGS)))

wyld: i had. love that easter bunny! you've got a great family. anna is such a darling and MN, so adorable. that song is one of my fave. =)

annette: one of the happiest easter i had. glad you liked the song. =)

curm: and that too, yeah, the elders. =)

audrey: i'd love that. and will take lots of pictures together. =)

kitty: one of the best. love that song too. God bless you, sis. =)

Anonymous said...

It's good to have a special Sunday every year to celebrate Christ's resurrection; I'd like to see more excitement about it EVERY Sunday. What a great Redeemer! What a great redeeming work He did!

Anonymous said...

He died once but lives FOREVER! Hallelujah! Sounds like you have been set free over holy week nonsense...:) My Redeemer LIves! Amen!
Bless you, sister!

Anonymous said...

Amen! How beautiful. He lives so that we may LIVE!! And joyfully! Thanks for the beautiful reminder Pia. I hope your Easter and holy week were especially glorious!

Anonymous said...

Hope you had a wonderful Easter. I just love that song and could listen to it all day!

Anonymous said...

seeker: amen! =)

cheryl: oh yeah! glad i did. =)

gina: it was. hope you had a wonderful easter too with your loved ones. =)

dawn: i love the song too... very much. =)

Anonymous said...

I grew up Catholic and never understood the meat thing. I later learned that it was put in effect to save meat...back when it was made a rule, meat was scarce.

Why do so many still do it? I think it is like this story about a woman learning how to make a roast by watching her mother. Her mother always cut off the end of the roast before cooking it. Years later the mother asked the daughter why she was cutting off the end of her roast...the daughter frowned and said, "You always did it...isn't that how you make a roast?" The mother answered, "I had a small pan...the entire roast couldn't fit."

Traditions can sometimes be really silly. Thank God He sent His Son to free us. Saved by faith!!!!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful post. Well done! (a reference to the quality of your post, not how I like the meat, which I do eat during holy week).

Anonymous said...

Nice post Pia. It is interesting to realise that we have been caught up in religion over the years- with the do's and dont's during the Holy week.

I reflected on this during the Easter weekend, and it dawned powerfully on me by the power of the Holy Spirit that though the Holy Week was the week of the Passion (suffering) of our Lord and Saviour-Jesus Christ; it was ultimately the week of the manifestation of the eternal victory, dominion and authority of the Lord over sin, death, the evil one, the powers and forces of darkness.

Then I realised that the Holy Week is indeed a week of rejoicing and celebrating the eternal victory and dominion of our God-and ours over the powers of darkness.

Though a solemn week, but not a sad, sorrowful, mourning and grieving week; a week of rejoicing in the victory of Christ on the cross and at His resurrection.

What a Joy- He is no longer on the cross or the grave, He is risen, He is Alive, He is now seated at the right hand of the Father in Heaven.

Anonymous said...

ha... i was raised catholic and knew about no meat on friday but never heard not to take a bath! weird! anyway i hope you had a beautiful/joyour Easter! He is risen indeed! love ya!

Anonymous said...

Yea, that's a lot of legalism going on there in that list. I hope your Easter was blessed.

Anonymous said...

Well, praise the Lord!

I was raised in South Louisiana, Episcopalian (which is Catholic Light, one third less guilt!)

When I was a kid a new priest moved in and observed that apparently "Lent" is South Louisiana was actually called "Gumbo". Seafood, of course! :)

Anonymous said...

MC: that was the reason why one shouldn't eat meat on holy week, because the meat is scarce back then? gosh, i didn't know that. all those years i thought it was biblical... this is even funnier than i thought. tradition can really be silly sometimes, i agree. =)

joe: haha... i like my meat well done too. =)

akinola: i agree. very well said. =)

nanz: i had. hope you did too. luv yah, sis! =)

sparrow: believe it or not, the list goes on... i had a wonderful easter, thanks. =)

herobill: thanks for the visit. gumbo? well, then i love lent season. =)

Anonymous said...

I was raised Catholic as well and I have never heard that it was because the meat was scarce. I was told it was because of religious reasons we had fish on Fridays. And even though the Netherlands is a fisherman-nation, fish was and still is much more expensive and more scarce then meat!
Maybe worth doing some research on:-)

Luv ya, girl.

God's Grace.

Anonymous said...

Hi Pia, just dropping by to wish you a happy day! I love those lyrics you posted!
Much love,
Kristi

Anonymous said...

I love that song.
:) I hope you had a happy easter.
Meesh

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