Life is such a precious gift.  Of all the gifts we have received this is the one that allows us to experience all else.  We cannot overestimate the gift we receive at birth. Through it we are able to experience love, relationships, the beauty of all creation.  And, although we come to experience pain and suffering through this gift of life,  ultimately we come to realize that the beauty of Life surpasses all else.

    All of us who have lost a loved one in our lifetime know the pain associated with this loss.  Whether it be a parent, a sibling, a child or a close friend, the pain of loss is real.  The pain oftentimes tempts us to withdraw within ourselves and to ask daunting questions to and of our God.  We ask, “Why?”  And, “why now?”  When we see ourselves having to go on without this loved one we struggle to the see the sense of it all.

    The Gift of Life and Pain of Death is the story of Easter.  When Christ died on the Cross on Good Friday his mother, his friends and his followers were completely distraught.  Mary’s loss of her son had to be heartbreaking.  The loss of a friend and mentor left all in a state of disbelief and utter depression.  The one person that had given them Hope was now taken away from them.  Why, God?

    On Easter Sunday, when Christ rose from the dead everyone rejoiced.  Their faith and their hope was Resurrected.  They had not believed in vane.  O Joyous Day!

    The feast of Easter has an even broader meaning for us.  It is not simply the day Christ rose from the dead so we could believe, although that in itself would be sufficient.  An even greater effect is the fact that we also will rise to New Life.  And this makes our lives all worth while. 

    When we believe in the Resurrection of the dead we ultimately believe that this life, regardless of its length, has meaning and will continue on in New Life after this earthly visit.  This is such a precious gift for all of us.  When we are sitting with a loved one who is near death and we believe that they will simply move on to a better, more peaceful and happier place with the God who loves them, the situation becomes one of peace and joy. 

    This week my mother passed away.  Eight years ago this month my father passed away.  Both were taken a very short time before Easter.  What a gift for them both!  Both of my parents were people of deep faith.  I have been deeply blessed to have them as parents.  My mother was eager to see her loving husband of 54 years.  They are together now and they are happy.  I thank God that he gave them the gift of life and gave them to me that I would also receive this gift of Faith through them.    Happy Easter!

                                Lorette P. Nault