The Christian “Holy Week” which began today, Sunday April 17th, reminds Christians of the Life and Passion of Jesus Christ, including the Last Supper, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday, when Jesus Christ rose from the Dead. On Monday, the Jewish week of Passover begins when people of the Jewish faith commemorate the saving of the first male born in each family from the angel of death, and the freedom of the Israelites from the slavery of the Egyptians. We are called to give praise and thanksgiving to our Creator and to love our God with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength. We are easily reminded that throughout all time and history that God has never abandoned His creation. He gave to us our human life and a free will, and patiently waits for us to follow the examples of faith, hope, and love which He has continually provided to us. Unfortunately, in today’s secular society, we have replaced His greatness, with our belief that we are the “masters” of our own destiny, and that we “know’’ better than our Creator what is in our best interest. This egocentric pride prevents us from being humble enough to submit to the love and caring of our Creator for His creation. Our systematic exclusion of God from our vocabulary, society, culture, public events, buildings, texts, and any other recognition or reference is prideful and arrogant since the gift of life we enjoy is the greatest gift each of us has received from God. The United States of America was founded by faith-filled people who understood the importance of having God in their life and lives. They submitted themselves to Him and His greatness, and understood that real freedom and liberty came from the Creator, not a human founded government.

 This week offers another opportunity for each of us to follow the example of Jesus Christ, who came into the world with nothing material, and left it in that same way. We can reflect, remember, and appreciate all of the many blessings which we have received in our life, and be thankful for the many times when we have been given the strength to endure those other times when we faced burdens, challenges, or obstacles in our life. We see so many acts of violence against the person or the property of another which indicates that many are still trying to find satisfaction and happiness in this world from power, control, wealth, position, authority, or material possessions, and have left God out of their life. We are invited to return to God and follow the example set by His son to live a life which gives to the Creator the praise and thanks deserved, and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. The respect for human life in all of its various forms, from conception to death, is a first start toward acceptance of the gift granted by the graciousness of the Creator, not the result of random biological happenings.

 Even though many will focus on the ham, lamb, dyed eggs, and chocolate rabbits and candy to celebrate a “holiday”, we can still make this week and Easter Sunday, a real “Holy Day” by using our various talents, abilities and resources to be of service to another,  and in praise and thanksgiving of God and His Son. We can commit to replacing  a “vice’ with a “virtue”, just by loving our neighbor as we love ourselves. No one has been guaranteed a easy life, but we are assured that as we encounter the challenges, obstacles, and difficulties of life,  that God will never abandon His creation in their time of need , and never has done so. Our call is to be patient, tolerant, wise, understanding, kind, courteous, loving, compassionate, merciful and forgiving just as our God has been with each of us throughout our various sinfulness, failings, and failures. His mercy and forgiveness for each of us is unlimited, and only a request away. All seek peace of mind, heart, and soul, and yet try to do so, by the accumulation of wealth, possessions, control, and/or authority or power over another, rather than being of service to the needs of another where personal fulfillment, true happiness, and eternal salvation can be achieved.

 The life and death of Jesus Christ is a clear reminder of the limitless love of our God for His creation. The enduring of pain, suffering, and death by Him for our salvation without any desire for political power or control, wealth, fame, fortune, or earthly possessions, validates the boundless love that our God had, and continues to have, for His creation. We can commence this week, with a fresh start to commit to being of service to one another, and replacing the vices in our life with virtues, and turning to God with the praise and thanksgiving He deserves, and ask for His forgiveness and mercy for our failings and faults. In our society may we return God to the forefront, and as we encounter our family, friends, associates, customers, competitors, acquaintances, or strangers, let us do so with a Stronger Faith, Never-Ending Hope, and with Everlasting Love.

 The verse/prayer below is attributed to Mother Teresa:

 People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered; forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends, and some true enemies; be successful anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; do good anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; be happy anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you have anyway.

Remember in the final analysis, it is between you and God; it was never between you and them anyway. Amen.

May you and your family, friends, neighbors, and associates, experience a Blessed, Holy, and Happy Easter and/or a fulfilling Passover as you give thanks and praise to our God and Creator and by loving our neighbor as we love ourselves.

J.H. Campbell, Jr.

Associated Grocers, Inc.

P.O. Box 261748

Baton Rouge, La. 70826-1748