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Albany, NY – In today's Academic Minute, Dr. Charles Zola of Mount Saint Mary College explains the meaning of Easter to Christians through history and in the present.
Charles Zola is an assistant professor of philosophy and director of the Catholic and Dominican Institute at Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, New York. His research interests include the philosophy of age and aging, applied ethics, and elder care ethic.
Dr. Charles Zola - Easter Through History
Once again, Christians around the world will celebrate Easter. For Christians, Easter is the most solemn season of the religious calendar and has a two-fold importance. First, it commemorates the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ more than two thousand years ago. But Easter is more than remembering past, it is also the time when today's Christians renew and celebrate their baptismal commitment.
In his letter to the Romans, Saint Paul writes: "Are you not aware that we who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Through baptism into his death we were buried with him, so that, just as Christ was raided from the death by the glory of the Father, we too might live a new life. If we have died with Christ we believe that we are also to live with him."
(Romans 6: 3-5)
Early Christian celebrations of Easter included the baptism of converts; however, those who were to be admitted into the Church had to be prepared. This special period of preparation eventually became known as Lent. Eventually through the course of history, the connection between baptismal preparation and Lent was lost and only the penitential aspect of the season was stressed.
Today, Lent is primarily seen as a period of fasting, prayer, and increased works of sacrifice; however, it is important for Christians to recognize that their Lenten practices of self-denial are ways they can free their minds and hearts from temporal concerns to become more focused on their relationship with Christ which began at Baptism. The symbols of spring such as chicks emerging from eggs and flowers budding from the cold, dark earth are natural reminders that death does not have the final word. There is hope for new life.
For Christians, these images have become symbolic of the Resurrected Christ who has conquered death, and who has invited his followers to be part of that new life through their Baptism.