What was the key that unlocked the door of resurrection and new life for Jesus? It was his surrender into the hands of God. In the Garden of Gethsemane, where he sweat blood in his agony, Jesus cried out, “Abba, Father, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” Then dying on the cross, Jesus cried out, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” His very last words were: “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” With these words, he breathed his last.

 Acceptance means surrender. It means giving up and letting go of a former way of life. It means recognizing that we are not going to live better lives than Jesus did. We are not going to escape our Gardens of Gethsemane, nor are we going to escape our crosses. Whoever said we might live lives that are happier than his, lives free of pain, loss, and suffering?

 The key to our success is the key to Jesus’ successful passage through the darkness of loss, despair, and death into a new, better, higher, and happier life. The key to our success is to do what Jesus did, to surrender ourselves and our lives over into the hands of our Father.

 What we celebrate at Easter is the joyful news that Christ’s hope is our hope, just as his faith in God is our faith in God. The joyful good news is God our Father has given us power, a tremendous power, the power to enter into newer, higher, and happier lives no matter what the forces of darkness and evil have or will yet throw at us.

Thought for the week: Repeat to yourself: Life isn’t an emergency.

Smile for the week: Two antennas met on a roof, fell in love, and got married. The ceremony wasn’t much but the reception was excellent.

Happy Easter to All! Alleluia! God bless! Have a wonderful week!