The true meaning behind Easter
Pastel eggs, bunnies and wide brimmed hats are just a few things associated with the Easter holiday. But what about Jesus? Father Chris LaBarge is a pastor at Saint Francis De Sales church in Salisbury and rather than the candy and the Easter bunny, he wants folks to remember the Christian meaning behind the sacred holiday.
47 ABC spoke with Father Chris and he says, “What we’re celebrating is the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday.”
According to the New Testament, Jesus died on the cross on Good Friday, then two days later he rose from the dead, appearing to the disciples and ascended to heaven. But many of the symbols associate with Easter are traced back to the pagan goddess of spring and fertility “Oestre”, who was associated with rabbits and eggs. The Christian holiday is also linked with a certain time of year.
Father Chris tells 47 ABC, “The spring themes all also there. So people are looking at the daffodils that are now blooming and the flowers coming up and they associate it with new life in that way.”
For Mike Powell of Pocomoke City, it’s always been about Jesus. He tells 47 ABC, “I think it’s a day that Christ rose from the grave.” The same goes for Lydia Steinbarge of Wicomico County. She tells 47 ABC, “It is a super religious holiday to me, I celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus.” But she doesn’t forget about the more consumer-driven side.
Steinbarge also tells 47 ABC, “Family, family get together, also color eggs too and I prepare an Easter basket, and I still keep the tradition. I look forward to it every year.”
Being with loved ones, a common theme among folks we talked to like Ryan Brown of Millsboro. He tells 47 ABC, “Family’s always been a big part of Easter, getting together on Easter Sunday, going to church and spending that time with family.”
But like Lydia, he still has some good old Easter fun. Brown tells 47 ABC, “Of course Easter egg hunt, putting together some Easter eggs, even as adults we go around and try to find a little bit of money in the plastic eggs.”
But at the heart of it all, Father Chris says, “The true celebration of Easter is the celebration of new life. Father LaBarge says Saint Francis has plenty of services planned for this Easter Sunday. At the Church, there is a 8 AM, 10:30 AM and 12PM. The 12 PM service will be in Spanish. At the Parish Center there will be a 7:30 AM, 9 AM, 11 AM and 12:15 PM.
