In the Western culturally Christian world we find ourselves heading towards cocoa flavoured celebrations. Easter eggs have long filled the shelves of our supermarkets and we’ve already requested one that particularly takes our fancy.
The childhood disappointment of these eggs not being a solid mass of chocolate awesomeness has, for years now, simply featured as part of the Easter symbolism that makes up this international celebration. However, has the message of Easter become just as hollow as the eggs themselves? Do we need reminding of how much we can learn, Christian, or otherwise, from the example of sacrifice that is presented to us each year?
Many people follow the school of thought that says Easter, Christmas, Pancake Day and other dates in the calendar that involve exaggerated eating patterns have formed our culture and represent nothing more than an invitation to gluttony. Indeed, Easter involves a somewhat decadent consumption of chocolate. However, we have become a little too quick to judge to take these festivals for their commercial face value. Our society relies on critiquing and pulling ideas apart as notions we know to be scientific fact pull at the strings of doubt at every new principle. It is in our nature to analyse. This trait cannot be faulted. Nevertheless, by simply taking Easter as a chocolate-eating festival, we are simply being lazy in our acceptance of tradition. Regardless of faith, it might be well worth acknowledging the fact that the one thing in our culture that has outstood all fashions and trends is religion.
‘God so loved the world that he gave his only son.’
The Easter story tells us that a sacrifice is worth making for those we love. Having had Mother’s Day in the UK at the end of last month, and with its arrival in the US next month, we are presented with the perfect reminder of one person in our lives who will sacrifice any earthly need of their own to provide for us. Put in their position, wouldn’t we do the same for them? Or should we at least think more about making sacrifices for those we love?
Likewise, Scriptoeris’ début came with a profile on the inspirational Malala Yousafzai. The single shot that penetrated her skull in turn penetrated our Scriptoeris minds and really made us recognise the true magnificence of making sacrifices for what we believe in. In our lives, this could be turning down a job offer to a company that doesn’t share your morals, or simply avoiding certain social circles. Whatever the situation, accepting this Easter message and recognising the potential impact of sacrifices on others could be the key to taking positive steps forward.
When discussing the thoughts of a religion based on a trinity, it seems apt to explain my point further with a trio of examples. So to conclude, it is worth noting the all-encompassing form of sacrifice that is so rarely seen in modern society. Sacrifice out of true selflessness. Give blood, even if you’re afraid of needles; donate the money you were saving for the latest nails inc colour; and give the chocolate bar a miss this lunchtime and buy an extra sandwich for the homeless person you always pass by when heading back to the office.
So, does this religious festival, and more to the point do all religious festivals, have more to offer than simply an opportunity to gorge oneself on copious amounts of confectionary? Is it more relevant to our lives that we like to let on?
The outright unselfishness of sacrificing things for others is surely a message that we cannot ignore. Last month we talked about happiness, this month let’s have a go at selflessness.