Holidays - again

• by donr
• 2016-03-28 05:03:42
• General Posting
• 1165 views
• 2 comments

Well, everyone, here it is for the two "Wandering" holidays of the Christians & Jews. Came a bit early this year, but nevertheless, it's here - & almost passed! Easter will be over in another 30 minutes here in the central time zone of the US, but our Jewish friends have another 30 days (roughly) till Passover begins.

I'd guess that it is appropriate that the two holidays match up most years, as they have for many, many years. After all, the Christian "Easter" occurred originally in conjunction with "Passover."

Both recognize the horror of death and celebrate the joy of continued life.

Today I received a bit of Easter trivia from a Roman Catholic friend that I had never seen before ( the trivia, not the friend). It asked if we (all the addressees) knew how the original Apostles died. Interesting, and terrible. Only ONE died a natural death. Among the others were beheadings, crucifictions, boiling in oil, dragging behind a horse. For some, as reported last year, fates have not changed much.

It is amazing how 15 men, a diverse, common group of men, perhaps described as a motley crew, were able to convince enough people who were all strangers and alien to the original faith to join and swell to some 2 billion believers today.

How diverse can you get? Led by a Jewish carpenter, followed by a couple fishermen, a tax collector, a physician and a johnny-come-lately persecutor of the group who was the only one among them who was dealt a savage blow to experience an epiphany to join and believe. All the rest were ASKED to join. Were they all strong men - not really. One became a traitor & killed himself. The rest questioned if they could really live up to the task they were asked to perform w/o the strength of their leader. But in the end, each took off ALONE and headed into a strange and hostile world. And each died for his beliefs and for that faith.

And that's just the Christians among us. The fate of the Jews was not that easy. The trials of the twelve tribes were perhaps more horrible, as they were dispersed throughout the known world of that time. Persecuted, hounded, killed because of their faith, nearly wiped out in some parts of today's world. But they soldier on.

Ah, if we could do the same!

To all out there who believe - a happy, joyous Easter for today & a glorious Passover for next month.

Donr